(2018-10-29). Headlines for October 29, 2018. democracynow.org Anti-Semitic Shooter Kills 11 Jewish Worshipers in Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Gunman Held Anti-Semitic, Racist and Xenophobic Views, Jewish Leaders to Trump: "Massacre Is Not the First Act of Terror You Incited", Trump, Conservatives Continue Attacks on George Soros, Kentucky: Shooter Kills Two Black People at Supermarket After Targeting Black Church, Trump-Supporting Suspect of Mail Bomb Campaign to Appear in Court, Brazil Elects Far-Right Candidate Jair Bolsonaro President, Indonesia: 189 Feared Dead After Lion Air Passenger Jet Crashes, Saudis Reject Turkish Demand to Extradite Khashoggi Murder Suspects, Israel Bo…
(2018-10-29). Glenn Greenwald on Bolsonaro: Brazil Has Elected "Most Extremist Leader in the Democratic World" democracynow.org 
Far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro has been elected Brazil's next president, marking the most radical political shift in the country since military rule ended more than 30 years ago. Bolsonaro, a former Army officer, openly supports torture and dictatorships, has a history of making racist, misogynistic and homophobic comments, and has threatened to destroy, imprison or banish his political opponents. He defeated Fernando Haddad of the leftist Workers' Party with 55 percent of the vote. His ascendance to power is leading many to fear the future of democracy in Brazil is in danger. We speak with Glenn Greenwald, Puli…
(2018-10-29). Australian politicians are starting to sound alarmingly like Trump. indybay.org Australian politicians are starting to sound alarmingly like Trump. From the Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton trying to scare Melbournians from going out to dinner [1,2], to politicians thundering in Federal Parliament about a 'final solution' and an end to non-white immigration [3], and the Minister for Indigenous Affairs eagerly voting for a Neo-Nazi slogan [4]. We know that politics like this sees a spike in racist abuse towards our communities [5]. But we are standing up.
(2018-10-29). Glenn Greenwald: Violence Like Pittsburgh Shooting Is "Inevitable Outcome" of Racist Scapegoating. democracynow.org 
The massacre of 11 worshipers at a Pittsburgh synagogue Saturday capped a hate-filled week in America, following the shooting of two African Americans at a Kentucky grocery store by a white man and the arrest of avid Trump supporter Cesar Sayoc for allegedly mailing 13 bombs to CNN and political opponents of President Trump. We speak with Glenn Greenwald, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and one of the founding editors of The Intercept.
(2018-10-28). Mail-Bomber "False Flag" Theories Overwhelm Right-Wing Discourse. truthout.org 
It might be interesting to start your stopwatches the moment an act of terrorism or mass killing is first reported and note how long it will be until someone on the internet chimes in about how the violence is a "false flag" operation or another nefarious conspiracy of some kind. | In the case of the recent spate of explosive devices mailed to leading liberal political figures and CNN, the stopwatch would have run only a few minutes. Almost immediately, conspiracist websites were posting theories about the "fake bombs." Some people learned about the bombs by reading the "false flag" theories first. | Within the d…
(2018-10-28). "Still in Solitary Over Here in Baghdad": a Forgotten American's 14-Year Nightmare in Iraq. theintercept.com 
Shawki Omar's story began as an embodiment of the American Dream. Today, it shows how the so-called war on terror has turned sadistic and extralegal.
(2018-10-28). Teachers set to walk off for refugees. greenleft.org.au 
The Australian Education Union (AEU) Victorian Branch Council has endorsed a planned walk off by teachers and education support staff in support of refugees on November 20, Universal Children's Day. | There are currently about 60 refugee children being detained by the Australian government on Nauru. | More than 6000 doctors issued an open letter to the government on October 22, calling on it to remove children from Nauru due to very serious mental and physical health emergency on the Pacific island. | Doctors and health workers have spoken out about the significant trauma children suffer in detention. | Australia…
(2018-10-28). US Foreign Policy Mindset In A Nutshell: Ann Coulter Says Trump Should Order US Military To Invade Mexico. iranian.com US Foreign Policy Mindset In A Nutshell: Ann Coulter Says Trump Should Order US Military To Invade Mexico "We didn't ask for Iraq's approval to go in," the controversial conservative pundit told Fox News host Laura Ingraham. What will political commentator/author/proud racist Ann Coulter suggest next, the Israeli approach of snipers killing weaponless men, women […] | The post
(2018-10-28). NAACP Condemns Synagogue Killings, Mourns for Victims. naacp.org The NAACP condemns the hate-inspired killings at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. Our condolences go out to those who have suffered losses and injuries during this horrific event. Anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia, and hatred represent horrible stains on our democracy. When these stains are embraced by elected officials and demagogues who prey on the […]
(2018-10-28). Trump's Gender "Science" is Reductive, Mean and Wrong. zcomm.org Trump's move — if he makes it — will serve to erase the civil rights of 1.4 million transgender Americans. An already vulnerable population will needlessly suffer more…
(2018-10-26). NYPD Should Not Take the Lead in Fixing New York's Homeless Crisis. aclu.org Comments from the city's subway chief raise concerns about further criminalization of New York's homeless. | New York City Transit President Andy Byford announced this week that he would ask the city, including the police, to help respond to homeless people exhibiting "offensive, obnoxious and anti-social" behavior on subways. | The comments prompt fresh concerns that the NYPD could exacerbate the city's already problematic track record of criminalizing homeless people. | "There is a fundamental difference betw…
(2018-10-26). Hatewatch Headlines 10/26/2018. splcenter.org Judge restores funding to sanctuary cities; Civil rights groups call for tech hate-group crackdown; Shea wants to create a 51st state; and more.
(2018-10-26). Against All Tides, North Carolinians are Heading to the Ballot Box. naacp.org Not even the force of two tropical storms could stop the momentum that NAACP is building in the state of North Carolina. In the span of two weeks, Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael ravaged the southeastern regions of the state, affecting counties where African Americans predominantly reside. As a leader in the Black community, NAACP […]
(2018-10-26). Despite Trump's Best Efforts, Hundreds of Thousands of Immigrants Earn Reprieve From Deportation. aclu.org The Trump administration's attacks on the Temporary Protected Status program have been stopped — for now. | Last week, Jeff Sessions attacked a court ruling that gave a temporary reprieve to hundreds of thousands of immigrants facing imminent deportation after years of living lawfully in this country. | "Federal district court judges are not empowered to fashion immigration policy," Sessions said. "The Legislative and Executive branches — of federal and state government — a…
(2018-10-26). New York sues Exxon over climate denial. greenleft.org.au 
After a three-year probe and amid mounting demands that the fossil fuel industry be held accountable for driving the climate crisis, New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood filed suit on October 24 against ExxonMobil, the world's largest oil and gas company. | The suit accuses the oil giant of defrauding investors by downplaying the financial threat of regulations crafted to mitigate human-caused global warming. | "Big oil may finally face some consequences for its role in wreck…
(2018-10-26). WATCH NOW: Wanda Sykes Collaborates with NAACP to Get Out the Vote. naacp.org Actress and award-winning comedienne, Wanda Sykes, knows elections are no joking matter. We must vote this year because our lives depend on it. Watch and share! About Wanda Sykes Wanda Sykes is an American actress, writer, and comedian. She is most known for her work in The Chris Rock Show, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and her […]
(2018-10-26). The Anti-Russia Cold War in the Arctic is Heating Up. counterpunch.org 
Britain's Daily Mail is a strident rag that is bought daily by over a million people who agree with its stance that most foreigners are inferior to Brits. Two years ago the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance reported that the Mail and some other papers indulged in "offensive, discriminatory and provocative terminology", and the Commission's chairman observed that "the Brexit referendum seems to have led to a further rise in 'anti-foreigner' sentiment". More
(2018-10-26). NAACP Prevails in Tennessee Voter Suppression Case. naacp.org MEMPHIS—The NAACP Memphis Branch and Tennessee Black Voter Project won a major victory in a lawsuit against the Shelby County Tennessee Election Commission potentially affecting some 35,000 voter registration applications submitted by African-American voters. "What happened in Tennessee yesterday is a prime example that we can prevail when underhanded voter suppression tactics are exposed for […]
(2018-10-25). NAACP on Bombing Attempts against Media, African American Leaders and Progressives. naacp.org BALTIMORE (October 25, 2018)—With less than two weeks before the critical midterm elections, the discovery of pipe bombs across the country sent to those who have been critical of the current president shows, yet again, how fractured we are as a society. Contrary to what the Trump Administration has been stating in the aftermath of these discoveries, […]
(2018-10-25). Louisville Shooter Made Racist Remark Right After Killing Two Black People, but Police Won't Call it a Hate Crime. theintercept.com 
The Kroger shooter reportedly told an armed white witness, "Don't shoot me. I won't shoot you. Whites don't shoot whites."
(2018-10-25). NAACP Partners with Members of the Faith Community to Galvanize Black Voters Ahead of Midterms. naacp.org In less than two weeks, Americans from coast to coast will take part in one of the most important elections of a generation, and as the nation's largest and foremost civil rights organizations, NAACP has partnered with its allies in the faith community to ensure the Black community is mobilized and ready to vote. Bishop […]
(2018-10-25). NAACP Pushing Back Against Voter Suppression to Get out Black Vote in North Carolina. naacp.org Cutting Edge Strategies Employed in Outreach to Infrequent Black Voters NORTH CAROLINA—(October 25, 2018) In the face of blatant examples of disrespect and voter suppression around the nation, the NAACP is engaging in a groundbreaking data and technology -fueled GOTV campaign to get infrequent Black voters to the polls during midterm elections. In North Carolina, […]
(2018-10-25). My Boss Fired Me From My Funeral Home Job for Being Transgender. aclu.org 
Aimee Stephens spent most of her life struggling with her gender identity. When she finally came out to her boss, she was fired. | I was in funeral services for nearly three decades before I was fired in 2013 for being transgender. In March, a federal appeals court agreed that it was wrong to fire me just because of who I am. Now, the Supreme Court will consider whether to review that court ruling. | While studying to be a pastor in college, I needed a job, and I found one in a funeral home. There are a lot of different ministries people can pursue, and I realized comforting people during one of the most vulnerab…
(2018-10-24). Georgia NAACP Files Voter Complaint Against Secretary of State Brian Kemp Over Voting Machine Irregularities. naacp.org Electronic Voting Irregularities and Voter Suppression Issues Continue to Plague Governor's Race ATLANTA (October 24, 2018) —The NAACP Georgia State Conference President Phyllis T. Blake filed complaints with the State Board of Elections for possible voter suppression tactics regarding malfunctions of the touch screen machines in Bartow, Cobb, Henry, Dodge Counties and Dodge Counties. The […] | The post
(2018-10-24). Who's Behind ICE? How Amazon, Palantir, Microsoft & Tech Giants Are Powering Trump's Deportations. democracynow.org 
A shocking new investigation by immigrant rights groups reveals how corporations like Amazon, Palantir and Microsoft are profiting from and expediting Trump's incarceration and deportation operations. Some 10 percent of the Department of Homeland Security's $44 billion budget is dedicated to data management. The report was published as new documents obtained by the Project on Government Oversight show Amazon is pushing Immigration and Customs Enforcement to start using its controversial facial recognition technology that could identify immigrants in real time by scanning faces in a video feed. We speak with Jacin…
(2018-10-24). Greg Palast Sues Georgia's Brian Kemp for Purging 340,000 from Voter Rolls Ahead of Election. democracynow.org 
A new investigation has found Georgia secretary of state and Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp has overseen the removal of more than 340,000 current Georgia residents from voting rolls. We speak with Greg Palast, a journalist who has been investigating Brian Kemp and voter suppression in Georgia. He has joined a lawsuit against Kemp over the purge.
(2018-10-24). City Officials Stoke Mob Mentality in Front of Sex Offender's Home. aclu.org The city government of Providence, Rhode Island, is ignoring its own law on residential protests and feeding vigilantism. | When Richard Gardner, a convicted child sex offender, was released from prison after serving almost 30 years, he quietly moved into the Washington Park neighborhood in Providence. One would not have expected a welcome wagon — but an angry mob should not have been the result either. | Because his crimes were committed so long ago, Gardner is not subject to the community notification provisions that apply to more recent offenders under the state's Megan's Law. But the police leaked his a…
(2018-10-24). Latino Voter Suppression in Kansas: Dodge City's Only Polling Site Is Moved Outside City Limits. democracynow.org 
In Kansas, local officials are under fire for moving a majority-Latino city's single polling site outside of city limits, more than a mile from the nearest bus stop. Dodge City, Kansas, is 60 percent Hispanic, but the Associated Press reports that Hispanic turnout was just 17 percent in Ford County, where Dodge City is located, compared to 61 percent turnout for white voters in 2014. The ACLU reports that the city's lone polling site services more than 13,000 voters, compared to an average of 1,200 voters per polling site at other locations. We are joined by Johnny Dunlap, chair of the Ford County Democratic Part…
(2018-10-24). 'The US Immigration System Is Inherently Abusive and Violent and Racist' – CounterSpin interview with Tina Vasquez on immigration reporting. fair.org 
Janine Jackson interviewed Tina Vasquez about reporting on immigration for the October 19, 2018, episode of CounterSpin. This is a lightly edited transcript. | Media…
(2018-10-24). Stacey Abrams Stands By Burning the Racist, Segregationist Georgia State Flag in 1992. democracynow.org 
During Tuesday's debate, Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams defended her actions in 1992 when she helped burn the Georgia state flag, which at the time contained a prominent Confederate battle flag. In a victory for civil rights advocates, the flag was later changed. We speak to Leah Wright Rigueur, professor at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
(2018-10-24). Aimee Stephens Was Fired Because She Is Transgender. That's Sex Discrimination. aclu.org The ACLU is asking the Supreme Court to let stand a lower court ruling that Aimee's firing was unlawful. | Jeff Sessions and Donald Trump think federal law shouldn't protect transgender people. They think it should be legal to fire someone just because she's trans. Five federal appeals courts disagree. On Wednesday, the ACLU asked the Supreme Court to let stand one of those rulings, in the case of Aimee Stephens. | Aimee had worked at a funeral home in Detroit for nearly six years when she wrote a letter telling her boss and coworkers that she is transgender. Two weeks after she came out as a woman to her employe…
(2018-10-24). NAACP Sues Shelby County Over Allegedly Defective Voter Registration Applications. naacp.org Tennessee County Should Allow Voters to Fix Applications and Vote Regular Ballots on Election Day BALTIMORE (October 24, 2018) The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), America's foremost civil rights organization, announced today that its Memphis Branch filed suit yesterday against the Shelby County (TN) Election Commission for its refusal to allow […]
(2018-10-22). SPLC statement on Trump administration's efforts to remove civil rights protections from transgender Americans. splcenter.org The Trump administration has apparently redoubled its efforts to exclude transgender Americans from the protection of federal civil rights laws.
(2018-10-22). The Trump Administration Is Trying to Erase Trans People, but the Law Clearly Protects Them. aclu.org A recently leaked memo is attempting to undermine decades of court decisions saying federal law protects transgender and nonbinary people. | Over the weekend, The New York Times revealed that officials within the Trump administration are pushing for a definition of the term "sex" in federal civil rights laws that would eliminate non-discrimination protections for transgender people. Transgender people and their families understandably panicked at that news. | The reality, though, is that transgender pe…
(2018-10-22). Court Tells Georgia It Can't Charge People to Read the Law. aclu.org The law doesn't belong to the state — it belongs to the people, and the government can't copyright it. | In a victory for the people of Georgia, a federal appeals court ruled on Friday that the state can no longer charge individuals hundreds of dollars to see the laws that govern them. | To get there, the court relied on a central tenet of American democracy: The government works on behalf of the public. | Quoting the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit wrote, "The…
(2018-10-22). Mississippi Sentences Man to 8 Years in Prison for Medical Marijuana He Purchased Legally in Another State. aclu.org A Black man's harsh eight-year prison sentence for drug possession in Mississippi shows the dire need for drug law reform. | Patrick Beadle, a 46-year-old father and musician, received an eight-year prison sentence in Mississippi for possessing 2.89 pounds of marijuana. If his sentence stands, he would spend nearly a decade behind bars for possessing a substance that is legal in nine states and now all of Canada. Such a severe, inhumane sentence speaks volumes about the inanity and heartlessness of our criminal…
(2018-10-19). Don't Board Our Buses Without Probable Cause or a Warrant. aclu.org The president of the Greyhound bus drivers' union urges management to stand up to Trump's deportation machine. | When I first started working at Greyhound 28 years ago, I was told that I would never be able to drive a bus. I'm a woman of color. But I got trained, and I became a bus driver. Soon after, I joined Local 1700 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, and today I am the local's president. | Local 1700 represents 3,500 Greyhound drivers, mechanics, and terminal workers. My job, as the president, is to advocate on behalf of our members for fair pay, safety, and wellbeing. But today, I'm advocating for our custom…
(2018-10-19). It's No Trick — These Virginia Cities Are Criminalizing Halloween. aclu.org Local ordinances are taking all the fun out of Halloween through excessive age and time restrictions. | In Chesapeake, Virginia, trick-or-treaters over 12 years old can be punished for trick-or-treating with a fine of "not less than $25.00 nor more than $100.00 or by confinement in jail for not more than six months or both." The potential penalty for asking for…
(2018-10-18). A Tribute to Ron Dellums, Radical. zcomm.org Ron Dellums appreciated the struggle against racism is permanently joined with those against sexism, militarism, and capitalism…
(2018-10-18). Trump Administration's Warped View of Religious Freedom Abroad. zcomm.org Religious freedom arguments are increasingly being used to challenge anti-discrimination policies and access to services…
(2018-10-15). The GOP's Racist Election Strategy. progressive.org As the 2018 midterm election approaches, the party is no longer making efforts to disguise its appeals to racism.
(2018-10-11). Dreaming political concepts in Iran and the US: Huey Newton and Ali Shariati, through the movie Black Panther. zcomm.org Dreaming political concepts in Iran and the US: Huey Newton and Ali Shariati, through the movie Black Panther In the movie Black Panther, N'Jobu is residing in Oakland, California as a Wakandan spy when he's troubled by the racism faced by black Americans. T'Chaka, the king of Wakanda, considers N'Jobu's plot of Read more…
(2018-09-05). Censored Documentary Exposes the Israeli Government's Attack on Black Lives Matter. grayzoneproject.com Exclusive footage from the censored Al Jazeera documentary, "The Lobby — USA," shows Israeli government officials taking credit for attacks…