(2018-09-04). Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearings Begin Despite Suppression of 100,000 Documents. truthout.org Confirmation hearings begin for Judge Brett Kavanaugh to fill Justice Anthony Kennedy's seat on the Supreme Court. If he is confirmed, it would likely make the court the most conservative since the 1930s. Kavanaugh is 53 years old and could serve on the Supreme Court for decades to come. Critics warn his confirmation could lead to major rollbacks of civil rights, environmental regulations, gun control measures, voting rights and reproductive rights, including possibly overturning Roe v. Wade. We speak with Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Last week the committee released a damning report on Kavanaugh's record on cases and issued a statement opposing Kavanaugh's nomination. She will attend the Senate confirmation hearings for Kavanaugh this week. | TRANSCRIPT: | JUAN GONZàÅLEZ: Confirmation hearings begin today for Judge Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump's pick to…
(2018-09-04). Drones Are Revolutionizing Journalism, But Congress Could Curb This New Tool. aclu.org The bill in Congress would give the government enormous power to seize and destroy drones, including in ways that could hamper freedom of the press. | At a time when journalists face unprecedented attacks, Congress is now considering legislation that may make it even harder for them to do their jobs., , Earlier this year, Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) introduced legislation that would grant the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice enormous power to intercept, surveil, se…
(2018-09-04). Community Pie Potluck to Support NAACP Santa Cruz County Branch. indybay.org Homeless Garden Project Farm | Shaffer Road at Delaware Avenue | Santa Cruz…
(2018-09-04). "What Are They Hiding?": Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearings Begin Despite Suppression of 100K Documents. democracynow.org 
Confirmation hearings begin for Judge Brett Kavanaugh to fill Justice Anthony Kennedy's seat on the Supreme Court. If he is confirmed, it would likely make the court the most conservative since the 1930s. Kavanaugh is 53 years old and could serve on the Supreme Court for decades to come. Critics warn his confirmation could lead to major rollbacks of civil rights, environmental regulations, gun control measures, voting rights and reproductive rights, including possibly overturning Roe v. Wade. We speak with Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Last…
(2018-09-04). A Right-Wing Musician Cut Up His Nike Socks To Protest Kaepernick — And Was Immediately Mocked by the Internet. alternet.org 
Country musician John Rich apparently does not understand how boycotts work. | In response to Nike's new ad campaign featuring NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick for the 30th anniversary of their "Just Do It" campaign, Republicans opposed to his protest of police brutality and civil rights injustice are fu. . .
(2018-09-04). Opening Hours of Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearing See at Least 22 Arrests of Protesters. alternet.org 
As women take a stand for their rights, D. C. authorities crack down. | Hearings have begun for the confirmation of D. C. Circuit Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, an event that many fear will be a crippling blow to civil rights. As women gather on Capitol Hill to protest, including activists dressed as (2018-09-04). Twitter Was Going to Ban Alex Jones — Until Its CEO Stepped in and Stopped It: Report. alternet.org 
CEO Jack Dorsey says he stepped in to stop the social media giant he co-founded from banning the conspiracy theorist and fake news promoter | "Last month, after Twitter's controversial decision to allow conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to remain on its platform, Mr. Dorsey told one person that he had overruled a decision by his staff to kick Mr. Jones off, according to a person familiar with the discussion," The Journal reports. The paper also says Dor. . .
(2018-09-04). Is the Government Planning to Surveil Keystone XL Protesters? aclu.org Memories of the government's use of force at Standing Rock, coupled with evidence of its plans for the Keystone protests, raise immense concerns. | In the aftermath of Dakota Access Pipeline protests at Standing Rock, leaked documents revealed that law enforcement agencies had collaborated with private security contractors to employ counterterrorism tactics against "pipeline insurgencies" and to manufacture a (2018-09-04). Kaepernick Has New Deal With Nike Though He's Not in NFL. truthdig.com Nike reportedly will feature the athlete and civil rights figure in billboard, TV and online ads, create a Kaepernick apparel line and contribute to his charity. The deal is said to put the ex-quarterback in the top bracket of NFL players with Nike.
(2018-09-04). The EMPOWER Care Act Would Give People With Disabilities the Freedom They Deserve. aclu.org Congress should re-authorize the Money Follows the Person program, which helps people with disabilities move back home. | On Wednesday, the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee will consider the EMPOWER Care Act, bipartisan legislation to re-authorize the Money Follows the Person program, which helps people with disabilities move from institutions into the community. | MFP is li…
(2018-09-04). What Kavanaugh Will Say Today, and What He'll Actually Mean. thenation.com What Kavanaugh Will Say Today, and What He'll Actually Mean appeared first on The Nation.
(2018-09-04). Watch: Kavanaugh Hearing Spirals into Chaos as Democrats Refuse to Allow Opening Statement from Republican Chair. alternet.org 
The confirmation hearing got off to a contentious start. | The confirmation hearing for Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, began in chaos as several Democratic senators interrupted the opening remarks. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) tried to welcome Kavanaugh and was immediately interrupted by Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA). "Good morning. I welcome everyone to this confirmation hearing on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to serv. . .
(2018-09-04). 'This Is Not a Drill': Democrats Told to 'Go for the Jugular' to Stop Kavanaugh As Hearings Begins. alternet.org 
"We're going to make sure our senators hear us. " | As President Donald Trump's right-wing Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee for his first confirmation hearing Tuesday morning, progressive lawmakers and advocacy groups are ramping up what has been described as the "biggest. . .
(2018-09-04). The Chaos That Brett Kavanaugh Has Unleashed. thenation.com The Chaos That Brett Kavanaugh Has Unleashed appeared first on The Nation.
(2018-09-04). Opposition to Kavanaugh sets off fireworks at Senate hearing. peoplesworld.org 
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(2018-09-04). Democrats Place Focus on Massive Republican Cover-Up of Supreme Court Nominee Kavanaugh's Record. alternet.org 
Republicans are hiding as much as 90 percent of his documents. | Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats continued their protest at the beginning of the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, pointing out again and again that Republicans are hiding as much as 90 percent of Kavanaugh's documents. Republican Chairman Chuck Grassley out-and-ou. . .
(2018-09-04). Headlines for September 4, 2018. democracynow.org Confirmation Hearings for Judge Brett Kavanaugh Begin Today, Trump Attacks Sessions for Filing Charges Against 2 Republican Congressmen, Father of Mollie Tibbetts: Don't Use Her Death to Promote Xenophobia and Racism, Trump Warns Syrian Government Not to Attack Idlib, Reuters Journalists Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison After Investigating Burmese Military Massacre, Saudi-Led Coalition Says Bombing of School Bus, Killing 40 Children, Was "Unjustified", Germany: 50,000 Attend Anti-Racism Concert in Chemnitz, Brazil: Fire at National Museum Destroys Millions of Pieces of Art and History, Canadian Court Rejects Effort…
(2018-09-04). Former Senator Jon Kyle Has Been Named McCain's Replacement — And He Was Kavanaugh's 'Sherpa' Through Confirmation Process. alternet.org 
McCain's wife Cindy tweeted her support. | The next senator from Arizona, replacing the late Sen. John McCain, will be former Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl, Gov. Doug Ducey is expected to announce Tuesday. Even before the formal announcement, Ducey was out with a statement saying that "I am de. . .
(2018-09-04). As Hearings Begin, Democrats Told to "Go for the Jugular" to Stop Kavanaugh. truthout.org 
With President Donald Trump's right-wing Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh set to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee for his first confirmation hearing Tuesday morning, progressive lawmakers and advocacy groups are ramping up what has been described as the "biggest campaign against a Supreme Court nominee in US history" to stop a judge who poses a dire threat to the planet, workers, and the reproductive rights of women. | "This is not a drill," Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) declared on Twitter Monday night. "The Supreme Court, and the future of our country — are both on the line. If we're going to stop Kavanaugh, we need you to speak out now." | In addition to urging Americans to blow up the phone lines of Democratic senators who haven't committed to opposing Kavanaugh, activists also gathered outside the Senate in…
(2018-09-04). Protests Erupt as Hearings for Trump's Supreme Court Pick Kavanaugh Begin. truthdig.com Demonstrators, including activists dressed as characters from "The Handmaid's Tale," target the nominee's anti-abortion views, among other objections. Democrats try but fail to adjourn hearing over documents.
(2018-09-04). What Are They Thinking? truthout.org SCOTUS nominee Kavanaugh wants to expand executive power, yet half of Senate Democrats are undecided about him.
(2018-09-04). Former Arizona U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl Named to Succeed John McCain. truthdig.com The long-time Republican stalwart may get to vote on the Brett Kavanaugh nomination to the Supreme Court he is currently helping guide through the Senate. He is not expected to run in 2020.
(2018-09-04). There Is No Grassroots Energy Rallying for Brett Kavanaugh. None. theintercept.com 
Last Sunday, several hundred protesters rallied in Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado, against President Donald Trump's Supreme Court pick, Brett Kavanaugh. Local reporters were on hand, and the protest earned a two-minute segment on that night's local CBS broadcast. The "Unite for Justice" rally in Denver was just one of dozens held across the country that same day, and viewers of that evening's news learned that the rally-goers were taking a stand against confirming a justice who would be the fifth vote to repeal Roe v. Wade. | The network's attempt at balance, however, was foiled by advocates of Kavanaugh — or, more precisely, the lack of them. The anchor, at the end of the segment, deadpanned to the Denver metro viewership and said, "A pro-life rally was scheduled to run in opposition to the protest, but no one attended."pic.twitter.com/LZfe6dRoiw
(2018-09-04). The US Will Have a Right-Wing Supreme Court for Decades to Come — Even if November Brings a Blue Wave. alternet.org 
Democrats can't stop the president from nominating. | This week, the Republican-controlled U. S. Senate begins its confirmation hearings on Judge Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump's second nominee for the U. S. Supreme Court. Republicans, fearing that Democrats could retake the Senate in the November mid. . .
(2018-09-04). Watch Kavanaugh Refuse to Shake the Hand of a Parkland Victim's Father. alternet.org 
The White House is already trying to spin the moment. | This just happened in the Senate Judiciary Committee, before the hearing on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh recessed for lunch. Just walked up to Judge Kavanaugh as morning session ended. Put out my hand to introduce myself as Jaime Guttenberg's dad. He pulled his hand back, turned his back to me and walked away. I guess he did not want to deal with the reality of gun violence. [m. . .
(2018-09-04). We Need Everyone to Take Action to Keep Brett Kavanaugh Off the Supreme Court. thenation.com We Need Everyone to Take Action to Keep Brett Kavanaugh Off the Supreme Court appeared first on The Nation.
(2018-09-04). Please Oppose Warmonger, Execution and Torture Supporting Brett Kavanaugh. indybay.org Kavanaugh worked with G W Bush for the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan and the torture of prisoners. He supports big business over employees, wardens over prisoners, the rights of the wealthy to steal elections. He refused a detained teen the right of an abortion. He ratified a DC agency forcing medical procedures on the disabled against their will.
(2018-09-03). Hatewatch Headlines 9/4/18. splcenter.org Human rights groups urge senators to grill Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh as hearings begin today; should Trump's evangelical advisers be exempt from disclosure laws? Mollie Tibbetts family says don't use her death to advance racism, and more.
(2018-09-02). A 5-Year-Old Girl in Immigrant Detention Nearly Died of an Untreated Ruptured Appendix. theintercept.com 
A 5-year-old girl fell gravely ill while in Border Patrol custody in McAllen, Texas. Her mother repeatedly sought medical care before her appendix ruptured.
(2018-08-31). Tofurky Has a Right to Free Speech, Too. aclu.org Missouri's new law regulating the use of the word "meat" is unnecessary and unconstitutional. | In a brazen attempt to restrict the First Amendment rights of those concerned with the effects of their food choices, the Missouri Legislature passed a law on Tuesday that prohibits "misrepresenting" any product as "meat" if it does not come from a slaughtered animal. | The new law now makes it a crime for plant-based and clean-meat producers to accurately inform consumers what their products are: Foods designed to fulfill the roles conventional slaughtered meat has traditionally played in a meal. For example, under th…
(2018-08-31). Belarus: Detention of journalists, harassment of independent media and new unduly restrictive legislation mark a low point for freedom of expression. amnesty.org The right to freedom of expression in Belarus has been dealt a series of severe blows in recent weeks, as the authorities' crusade against journalists and independent media outlets continues. The latest moves by the Belarusian authorities demonstrate their resolve to eliminate all critical voices in the country and deprive people in Belarus of the opportunity to freely access, share and disseminate information and ideas.
(2018-08-31). Iran: Free People Jailed for Peaceful Protests. hrw.org 
(Beirut) — Iranian authorities should drop all charges brought against protesters for peaceful assembly and release those detained on that basis, Human Rights Watch said today. Since August 2, 2018, authorities have detained more than 50 people during protests in Tehran. | amnesty.org In this document, non-governmental organizations express concern at the failure of the Syrian government to disclose more information about the deaths of arbitrarily detained and disappeared people in conjunction with government's update of the civil registries records and, in some cases, issuance of death notices that state the cause of death, and to urge you to take immediate steps to address the continuing government policies of arbitrary detention, ill-treatment and enforced disappearances in a comprehensive and just manner.
(2018-08-30). Federal Data Shows Public Schools Nationwide Are a Hotbed of Racial Injustice. aclu.org A new series of reports from the ACLU and UCLA Civil Rights Project reveal glaring racial disparities in school discipline. | Many students heading back to school are being greeted by more police and metal detectors, but few, if any, counselors — this is especially true for students of color. Beyond having more police officers who could be armed, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is reportedly considering a plan to allow states to buy guns for teachers using federal funds. | Despite the research demonstrating that
(2018-08-30). In Defense of Affirmative Action in Higher Education. aclu.org The mere consideration of race in admissions, as the Supreme Court has long-held, does not violate college applicants' equal rights. | In November 2014, Students for Fair Admissions, an organization founded and led by Edward Blum as part of his ongoing opposition to civil rights and racial equality, sued Harvard University for racial discrimination in the admissions process. | According to the plaintiff, Harvard discriminates against Asian-Americans and engages in "racial balancing" that unfairly restricts the number of Asian-Americans admitted to the school. Yet the remedy that plaintiff seeks — prohibiti…
(2018-08-30). Sudan: Online activist held incommunicado over a month: Ahmed Al-Dai Bushara Joudah. amnesty.org Ahmed Al-Dai Bushara Joudah, a journalist and social media activist, was arbitrarily arrested on 16 July in Omdurman, Sudan by National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) agents. He is currently being held without charge at the NISS detention centre in Khartoum North. He has been denied access to a lawyer and family. He is at risk of torture and other ill-treatment while in detention.
(2018-08-30). China: Systematic repression of ethnic minorities laid bare in UN findings. amnesty.org In response to the release of concluding observations on China by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Amnesty International's Deputy East Asia Director Lisa Tassi said: | "The Committee's findings highlight the systematic oppression of ethnic minorities in China, including the mass arbitrary detention of Chinese Uighurs and others in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR). | "The Chinese government must now heed the call to tackle serious human rights violations. Rather than dismissing the Committee's recommendations, it must immediately set out next steps to address th…
(2018-08-30). Update on Prison Strike Demanding End of "Slave Labor": After 10 Days, Protests Spread to 11 States. democracynow.org 
Prisoners across the country join work stoppages, hunger strikes and commissary boycotts in at least 11 states to protest prison conditions and demand the end of what they call "prison slavery." Organizers report prisoners in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Indiana are demonstrating. Individuals in Texas, California and Ohio have gone on hunger strike, including some in solitary confinement. Meanwhile, at least six people have been hunger-striking inside the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington, for more than a week. We speak with Amani Sawari, prison strike organizer working on behalf of Jailhou…
(2018-08-29). On National Security, Kavanaugh Has a History of Extreme Deference to the President. aclu.org Trump's pick for the Supreme Court has a record of extreme deference to the executive on national security cases, including unlawful detention. | A week before his confirmation hearing, the public record on Judge Brett Kavanaugh's possible involvement in some of the Bush administration's most abusive policies and programs is woefully incomplete. | Kavanaugh, President Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court, served in the White House soon after 9/11 when the Bush administration launched many of its most infamous programs in the name of national security. Leading senators have said that, during his 2006 confirmatio…
(2018-08-29). The Movement Against Prison Abuse—From the Inside. progressive.org Janos Marton of the ACLU's Smart Justice program talks about a growing public awareness of the rampant inequality perpetuated by prisons, jails, arrests, and prosecutions, and what people on the outside can do.
(2018-08-28). More Than 60 Years After His Brutal Murder, Emmett Till Deserves Justice. aclu.org The Justice Department has reopened the Emmett Till case at a time when we're constantly reminded of how much racial injustice persists in the US. | Sixty-three years ago, Mamie Elizabeth Till-Mobley made the unbearably painful decision to have an open coffin funeral for her 14-year-old son Emmett. On Aug. 28, 1955, Emmett was tortured and murdered by white men in Mississippi for allegedly acting disrespectfully toward a white woman. | The sight of Emmett's body, mutilated beyond recognition, spread throughout the world in photographs published in Jet Magazine and other outlets. The shocking sight so outraged pe…
(2018-08-27). A Court in Florida Affirms Dignity for Transgender People, Even in Prison. aclu.org Reiyn asked to be treated like any other woman behind bars. | A federal judge in Florida on Wednesday issued the most affirming judicial opinion about transgender people I've ever read. | For several years, the Florida prison system denied Reiyn Keohane access to hormones and prevented her from following the dress and grooming standards that all other women are subjected to, because she is a woman who has…
(2018-08-27). Headlines for August 27, 2018. democracynow.org John McCain Dies at 81, Democratic Party Officials Vote to Reduce Power of Superdelegates, Pope Francis Meets with Church Sexual Abuse Survivors in Ireland, Trump Administration Cuts $200 Million in Aid to Palestinians, U.N. Calls on Burma's Top Generals to Be Investigated for Genocide Against Rohingya, Reports: Head of ISIS in Afghanistan Killed in Airstrike, Corruption Scandal Engulfs Argentina | , 3 Killed, Including Gunman, in Shooting at Video Game Tournament in Florida, Detainee Speaks Out from Hunger Strike in Northwest Detention Center, 7 Arrested at Protests at UNC over "Silent Sam" Confederate Monument…
(2018-08-27). 'Justice Kavanaugh' is Not Inevitable. progressive.org The controversial judge's confirmation would represent a tremendous threat to millions of Americans—and we can easily prevent it.
(2018-08-24). Celebrate Women's Suffrage, but Don't Whitewash the Movement's Racism. aclu.org Sojourner Truth and Mary Church Terrell are among the activists who endured deeply entrenched racism while fighting for Black women's right to vote. | My 94-year-old great-aunt, Paralee Wilmer — we call her Aunty Lee — voted for the first time after moving to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1944. Born to no-nonsense, small farmers in Millers Ferry, Alabama, and the youngest daughter of 12 children, Aunty Lee was one among many African Americans who moved from the South to the North in search of better job opportunities and greater freedoms during the (2018-08-23). Headlines for August 23, 2018. democracynow.org Trump Claims Hush Money Payments Didn't Break Campaign Finance Laws, Democrats Want to Delay Brett Kavanaugh SCOTUS Confirmation Hearings, New York State to Subpoena Michael Cohen in Trump Foundation Probe, Hungary's Government Accused of Starving Asylum Seekers, Asylum Seekers Denied Entry to Italy, Beaten in Croatia, Predominantly Black Georgia County to Close 7 of 9 Polling Stations, KKK Leader Sentenced for Firing Pistol at Charlottesville Rally, North Carolina to Retain Confederate Statues on State Capitol Grounds, Firefighters Join Net Neutrality Suit After Verizon Throttles Data During Historic Blaze, Hawa…
(2018-08-21). Why Kavanaugh Should Be 'Borked'. progressive.org Kavanaugh begins his quest for the Supreme Court with a higher level of opposition than for any nominee since Bork's 1987 nomination.