NEW YORK, NEW YORK – U.S. Senate candidate Jonathan Tasini will appear in New York Criminal Court on Wednesday August 2nd, for a hearing related to his arrest while participating in an act of peaceful civil disobedience last spring in support of New York University graduate employee union members' right to organize.

On April 27, 2006, Tasini joined over fifty students and supporters who sat down in the street near Washington Square Park during a demonstration calling for the University to negotiate a new contract with GSOC/UAW Local 2110, the union of graduate teaching and research assistants.

“I support graduate teachers’ right to organize,” said Tasini. “Like all workers, they should be able to collectively bargain for union representation and I condemn NYU for it’s refusal to renew their contract.”

For the past 25 years, Mr. Tasini has been a union leader and organizer, a social activist, and a commentator and writer on work, labor and the economy. From 1990 to April 2003, he served as president of the National Writers Union (United Auto Workers Local 1981).

From Helen Kennedy's latest in the NY Daily News today:

Hillary Clinton's primary opponent lashed out at the senator over Israel yesterday, blaming the deaths of 37 children in Qana on her refusal to push for a ceasefire.

"She, and a broad segment of our political leadership, bear responsibility for the deaths ofthese children," Democrat Jonathan Tasini said in a statement. The youngsters were among about 60 civilians killed in Israel's weekend strike on the southern Lebanese town of Qana.

"Rather than call for restraint, Hillary Clinton stopped just short of declaring, 'Let the bombs fall.'"

At 10:30 PM tonight you can tune in to hear Jonathan on the Mike Malloy on Air America. In NYC you can listen to Air America on WLIB 1190 AM. You can also listen online to the live show here, just follow the links to “Listen Live.” If you miss the show tonight and want to download a recording, you can do so here.

Rumor has it that Senator Clinton, in an effort to reach out to white, middle-class voters, is getting help from an old family friend and PR master Roy Spence. Spence, is best known for ”helping Wal-Mart brand itself as a quality, low-cost powerhouse.”

This isn’t the only connection between Sen. Clinton and Wal-Mart. She sat on Wal-Mart’s Corporate Board of Directors from 1986 and 1992 and held between $50,000 and $100,000 worth of Wal-Mart stock.

In contrast, Jonathan has continually opposed Wal-Mart’s irresponsible business practices and the Democratic politicians who condone them.

Jonathan speaking at an Anti-Wal-Mart Bronx Town Hall meeting as part of the WakeUpWalmart Bus Tour kickoff.

Click here to hear Jonathan speaking at the Wake-Up-Wallmart Kick-off event on August 1st.

Union Square Greenmarket

Prospect Park Boricua Festival

Jones Beach