U.S.

I'm looking for New York City area or New Jersey activist groups focused on strengthening U.S. workers' rights, and advocating increased taxes for the rich. I'm looking for groups I can actually participate in. So far I've found plenty of organizations looking for money donations that they can spend on lobbying, or urging you to call your congressman... but none that want anybody to actually gather and discuss issues or actually DO anything.

I would like any precedents in Germany or other countries for what is happening to Andre Shepherd, an American soldier and IVAW member currently being held in a German refugee camp as he seeks asylum? I have other questions too but this is on the top of my list. You can find out more by going to articles posted on the front of the www.ivaw.org website, the article in Der Spiegel is particularly informative.