(2018-11-09). Florida Gov. Rick Scott sues 2 Democratic strongholds over election 'theft' as recount looms. rt.com 
Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican candidate for Senate, has filed lawsuits against Broward County and Palm Beach County election supervisors, accusing them of trying to rob him of election victory with heaps of new ballots.
(2018-11-09). Trump's Only Election Strategy Was Racism. zcomm.org Republicans can only win by racial gerrymandering and voter suppression. And Trump can only win by using fear and racism.
(2018-11-09). Myths on Race and Invasion of the 'Caravan Horde'. counterpunch.org 
Now comes the mid-term elections. Perhaps what is most astonishing for me, as both an anthropologist and educator, is the level of racist discourse promoted by the current Trump administration against hapless refugees and the so-called threat they pose. Indeed, Trump and his administration have focused on immigrants as a major threat to the security More
(2018-11-09). Civil rights under threat in name of national security. greenleft.org.au 
One of the usual threats trotted out by governments proposing what would otherwise be considered radical attacks on civil liberties is national security. | The Australian newspaper reported on June 8 that Attorney-General Christian Porter was demanding urgent passage of two separate espionage and foreign interference bills following "intelligence advice of an accelerated escalation in hostile foreign activity over the past 12 months". | The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security had just published a 400-page report containing 60 recommendations, giving the green light to the first bill, the Es…
(2018-11-09). Trump challenged on trans and gender diverse discrimination. greenleft.org.au 
Trans and gender diverse people in the US are preparing to fight for their lives — literally — against a push by the Republican religious right to quash life-saving laws protecting them from discrimination. | A leaked memo from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revealed it is pushing for the federal civil rights law that bans gender discrimination in education programs receiving government assistance to redefine sex as binary. If the push is successful, the law wound dictate that the gender assigned at birth cannot be changed. | If successful, this would effectively exclude about 2 mil…
(2018-11-09). Israeli Colonists Puncture Tires, Write Racist Graffiti, Near Salfit. imemc.org A group of illegal Israeli colonialist settlers invaded, on Friday at dawn, Kafr ed-Deek town, west of Salfit in Central West Bank, punctured tires of several parked cars and wrote racist graffiti. Media sources in Tubas said the assailants punctured the tires of several cars, before writing racist anti-Palestinian graffiti …
(2018-11-09). #StopCVE: Race, Islamophobia, Policing and Mass Incarceration in Alameda County. indybay.org Lighthouse Mosque, 602 42nd St. Oakland. Accessible by AC Transit #18 and MacArthur BART Station.
(2018-11-08). Fierce Critic of Mueller Probe Now Has Power to Sabotage the Investigation. truthout.org The day after the midterm elections, Donald Trump fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions and appointed Trump loyalist Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general. Whitaker, who has criticized the Mueller probe in the past, could fire Robert Mueller or defang his investigation. | Although Sessions was faithfully carrying out Trump's draconian agenda on civil rights, immigration and policing, the president had Sessions in his sights since the latter
(2018-11-08). Minnesota protest says 'no' to military at the border, 'yes' to asylum for migrants. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN – More than 50 people gathered November 5 at rush hour to protest on the Lake Street/Marshall Avenue bridge, a major artery that connects Minneapolis and Saint Paul, to protest President Trump's relentless racist attacks on the caravan of refugees heading north. The refugees are seeking asylum from rampant violence, political instability and extreme poverty in Honduras. | The protesters carried signs opposing President Trump's plan to send thousands of military troops to the border and his threats to fire on asylum seekers, as well as signs in solidarity with the thousands of Hondurans who will se…
(2018-11-08). NAACP Statement on Brian Kemp's Resignation as Georgia Secretary of State. naacp.org NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, released the following statement after reports of Georgia Secretary of State and Gubernatorial Candidate, Brian Kemp's resignation: "It's unfortunate that Brian Kemp did not step down months ago as Secretary of State to ensure that Georgia had a fair election. Whether it's malicious intent or benign neglect, Kemp's actions […]
(2018-11-08). The Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Agenda for the New Congress. aclu.org Now that the election is over, Congress should take its cue from the electorate. | This week's midterms should send a strong message to the political establishment that when our civil rights and civil liberties are on the line, American voters will step in. Decision-makers should be taking close note of Tuesday's sky-high turnout, an unprecedented wave of victories for diverse candidates, and a slew of local milestones for (2018-11-08). Trump Fires AG Sessions, Installs New Loyalist Whitaker to Oversee Mueller Probe. democracynow.org 
President Donald Trump has fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions, replacing him with a Trump loyalist who has called special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation a "witch hunt." Matthew Whitaker, formerly Jeff Sessions's chief of staff, will now take charge of the Russia inquiry, prompting questions about the future of the Russia investigation and whether Trump will target Robert Mueller next. Some experts are raising questions about the legality of putting Whitaker in charge rather than Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who had been overseeing the Russia probe. The ACLU wrote in a statement, "Jeff…
(2018-11-08). The Trump Administration Thinks Your Employer Should Make Your Birth Control Decisions. aclu.org The administration finalized rules allowing employers to deny health insurance for contraception if they object for religious or moral reasons. | The Trump administration moved forward on Wednesday in its quest to give businesses and other institutions a license to discriminate by issuing a regulation allowing employers and universities to deny health insurance coverage for contraception — currently required by law — if they object because of religious or moral views. The move could leave thousands of people across the country without contraceptive coverage. | The Affordable Care Act requires that ins…
(2018-11-08). Silent marches continue to highlight Aboriginal deaths in custody. greenleft.org.au 
About 50 people held a silent march through the beachside suburb of Manly on November 3 against Aboriginal deaths in custody. | Relatives of five victims of the racist criminal justice system who died in police or prison custody were present. These included the families of David Gundy, who died in 1989, TJ Hickey (2004), Mark Mason (2010), Eric Whittaker (2017) and Nathan Reynolds (2018). | Many Aboriginal and non-Indigenous supporters also attended the silent march, which was the eleventh of its kind organised by the Indigenous Social Justice Association (ISJA) in Sydney and regional New South Wales over recent…
(2018-11-08). Hatewatch Headlines 11/8/2018. splcenter.org Voters punished Republicans for their racism; Trump rips black reporter's 'racist' query; Governors can stop militias from massing on border; and more.
(2018-11-08). 'Bigotry & anti-Semitism': Alyssa Milano disavows anti-Trump Women's March, is accused of 'racism'. rt.com 
Alyssa Milano will not speak at the next Women's March event, citing her disapproval of the organization's ties with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. Her disavowal, however, has triggered counter-arguments of racism. |
(2018-11-08). As Julian Assange's Health Declines, the Media Obsesses About His Cat. theantimedia.com 
While the media focused on Julian Assange's cat rather than his continuing arbitrary detention, evidence shows that Britain worked hard to force his extradition to Sweden where Assange feared he could then be turned over to the United States. (CN) — Let's start with the cat. You never would have thought one of these beloved felines would …
(2018-11-07). The 2018 Midterm Elections Were a Big Win for Criminal Justice Reform Ballot Initiatives. aclu.org Voters made it clear that they've had enough of President Trump's "tough on crime" rhetoric. | Wednesday morning I woke up in a better America when it comes to criminal justice reform. | On Election Day, voters in states across the country said enough is enough to America's horrific criminal justice system. They voted for reforms that will change people's lives for the better while expanding our civil liberties and civil rights. They also voted for reform-minded law enforcement officials and against the "law and order" types who have led to America's epidemic of mass incarceration. In other words, they rejected…
(2018-11-07). New York Registration Deadline Prevents Tens of Thousands From Voting. aclu.org The 25-day cutoff is an unnecessary and outdated burden on New Yorkers' right to vote. | Imagine a national department store chain holding a "Back to School" sale in late July instead of in August. People who show up close to when school actually starts are told, "You're too late." | That's what voting in New York is like. Each election cycle, thousands of New Yorkers are prevented from casting a ballot because of the state's registration cutoff, which requires voters to register at least 25 days in advance of the election in order for their vote to count. | The 25-day registration cutoff imposes an unnecessary a…
(2018-11-07). Headlines for November 7, 2018. democracynow.org Democrats Take the House of Representatives as GOP Gains in Senate, Democrat Stacey Abrams Refuses to Concede Georgia Governor's Race, Republican Ron DeSantis Defeats Andrew Gillum in Florida Governor's Race, Maryland GOP Gov. Larry Hogan Defeats Former NAACP Head Ben Jealous, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz Defeats Progressive Democratic Challenger Beto O'Rourke in Texas, Incumbent Senate Democrats Lose in North Dakota, Indiana and Missouri, Democrats Win Governor's Races in Maine and Midwestern States, Wave of Women Voters Brings Historic Firsts in Midterm Elections, Florida to Restore Voting Rights to 1.4 Million wit…
(2018-11-07). NAACP President Derrick Johnson's Response to the Results of the 2018 Midterm Election. naacp.org 
President and CEO of the NAACP Derrick Johnson issued the following statement regarding the results of the 2018 midterm election: "This was a remarkable wave of grassroots activism that swept across the country — with women and people of color leading the way. From a U.S. House of Representatives that reflects the will of the […]
(2018-11-07). Midterm elections in Trump era bring high engagement from racists, extremists. splcenter.org When Donald Trump ran for president in 2016, racists, neo-Nazis and alt-right extremists embraced his candidacy with enthusiasm.
(2018-11-07). As Julian Assange Faces Crisis, the Media Obsesses Over His Cat. mintpressnews.com 
While the media focused on Julian Assange's cat rather than his continuing arbitrary detention, evidence shows that Britain worked hard to force his extradition to Sweden where Assange feared he could then be turned over to the U.S., as Stefania Maurizi explains.
(2018-11-07). NAACP STATEMENT ON JEFF SESSIONS RESIGNATION. naacp.org "U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' resignation might be a welcomed reprieve from his jurisdiction over the justice department. His odious record has done little to impact the civil liberties of African Americans, confirming our deepest concerns when it comes to criminal justice and equal rights. However, given the administration's track record on appointing problematic people […]
(2018-11-07). Green Bay, WI rally protests killing of indigenous man. fightbacknews.org Green Bay, WI – On November 2, local grassroots activist group Black Lives United Green Bay, together with Native Lives Matter from Minneapolis, hosted a vigil for Jonathon Tubby, an indigenous man murdered by Green Bay police. Nearly 200 people came out to share good memories and their feelings in response to Jonathon's death at the hands of police. | The people who spoke at the vigil demanded accountability, transparency and the immediate suspension of the officers involved. Members of Native Lives Matter spoke on the killings of unarmed Native American people all over the United States. Hollie Poupart, an acti…
(2018-11-06). Headlines for November 6, 2018. democracynow.org Huge Turnout for Early Voting in Midterms as Technical Issues Surface, Trump Attacks Democrats and Migrants on Eve of Midterm Elections, Fallout from Racist Trump Campaign Ad Continues as Networks Pull Ad, Georgia Dem. Gov. Candidate Abrams Responds to Kemp Hacking Probe, Racist Robocalls Attack Georgia Dem. Gov. Candidate Abrams, Students Across Country Walk Out of Class to Cast Ballots in Midterms, NYC: Trial Begins over 2020 Census Citizenship Question, Coloradans to Vote on Divisive Oil and Gas Ballot Measures, Washington State Voters to Vote on Fee for Large Carbon Polluters, NYC: Local Leaders Decry Racist…
(2018-11-06). NAACP Organizes Voter Protection Command Center at Baltimore Headquarters. naacp.org Volunteers, Attorneys and Staff Provide Answers and Resources for Voters on Election Day BALTIMORE (ELECTION DAY)—Volunteers ranging from local members, sororities and fraternities to both volunteer and staff attorneys, are taking calls, responding to email and sharing website resources for voters all around the nation on Election Day. The NAACP has incorporated the latest SMS […]
(2018-11-06). TODAY: NAACP PRESIDENT DERRICK JOHNSON JOINS ATLANTA COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO TURN OUT VOTERS IN HISTORIC 2018 MIDTERM ELECTION. naacp.org PART OF NATIONAL ELECTION DAY OUTREACH IN KEY STATES WHO: NAACP National President and CEO Derrick Johnson will join a delegation of community canvassers to knock on doors and turn out voters in Stockbridge, Georgia — a community just south of the Atlanta metro area between 4: 00pm and 5: 00pm. WHAT: The NAACP has been on the ground conducting a […] | The post
(2018-11-06). Women of Color Hope to Make History in 2018 Election with Wins in Congress and Governor's Races. democracynow.org 
A historic number of women of color are running for public office in today's election. At least 255 women are on the ballot as congressional candidates, including a record number of women of color. In Georgia, Stacey Abrams hopes to become the state's first black governor—and the country's first black woman governor. Meanwhile in New Mexico, Deb Haaland could become the nation's first Native American woman to serve in Congress. Amid a rash of racist ads by Abrams's opponent Brian Kemp, there is something "deeply transformational about the electoral organizing and the campaign that Stacey Abrams represents,"
(2018-11-06). The Supreme Court Will Decide Whether Maryland Can Display a 40-Foot Latin Cross. aclu.org The case could drastically alter longstanding precedent protecting the separation of church and state and send a devastating message to non-Christians | Last Friday, the Supreme Court announced that it will decide whether a state government's display of a gigantic, 40-foot Latin cross as a war memorial in Bladensburg, Maryland, violates the separation of church and state. | On the surface, the case appears to be about one religious monument located at one busy intersecti…
(2018-11-06). ICE Detention Center Says It's Not Responsible for Staff's Sexual Abuse of Detainees. aclu.org Officials at the detention facility are trying to avoid responsibility by arguing that the detainee "consented" to sexual abuse. | All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the federal government impose criminal liability on correctional facility staff who have sexual contact with people in their custody. These laws recognize that any sexual activity between detainees and detention facility staff, with or without the use of force, is unlawful because of the inherent power imbalance when people are in custody. Yet, one immigration detention center is trying to avoid responsibility for sexual violence within its…
(2018-11-06). 'Charleston and Tree of Life Are Connected Struggles' – CounterSpin interview with Audrey Sasson on antisemitism, racism and resistance. fair.org 
Janine Jackson interviewed Audrey Sasson about antisemitism, racism and resistance for the November 2, 2018, episode of CounterSpin. This is a lightly edited transcript. | Media…
(2018-11-06). The West is Failing Julian Assange. consortiumnews.com While the media focused on Julian Assange's cat rather than his continuing arbitrary detention, evidence shows that Britain worked hard to force his extradition to Sweden where Assange feared he could then be turned over to the U.S., as Stefania… Read more →
(2018-11-06). NAACP Unites in Demand to Make Panama City Florida Polling Sites Accessible to Hurricane Victims. naacp.org Groups Want Equal Access to the Polls for Communities Displaced by Hurricane Michael BALTIMORE—(November 6, 2018) Florida officials have rejected a formal request from voting rights advocates to make polling locations more accessible to African-American residents of Panama City, Florida, who were hard hit by Hurricane Michael. Late last week, a coalition of voting rights […] | The post
(2018-11-05). The ACLU Mourns the Passing of Ramona Ripston. aclu.org For nearly four decades, Ripston led the ACLU of Southern California and turned it into a civil liberties and civil rights powerhouse. | Ramona Ripston, who led the ACLU of Southern California for nearly four decades, died on Saturday. She was 91. | Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, issued the following statement: | "On Saturday, we lost my friend Ramona Ripston, a civil liberties icon in Los Angeles and one of the country's most dynamic advocates for justice and equality., , "In her nearly four decades as leader of the ACLU's Southern California affiliate, Ramona's off…
(2018-11-05). In Trump's Hands, the Census Becomes a Weapon. aclu.org We use the census as a tool to build power in communities. The administration wants to use it against those communities. | Almost a decade ago, I ran the Minkwon Center for Community Action, a grassroots organization serving the Korean-American community in Queens. Getting immigrants to participate in the 2010 census was one of our top priorities. Why? Because I knew we could use the census to build power for our communities, just by standing up and being counted. And we did, but it wasn't easy. | First, we had to educate people about the census's importance. After all, it's not just a head count. The…
(2018-11-05). A Tax-Funded Child Welfare Agency in Philadelphia Wants to Turn Away Same-Sex Couples Like Us. aclu.org Faith-based child welfare agencies are challenging the city's nondiscrimination policies, which protect LGBTQ foster parents and the kids they serve. | Editor's Note: On Nov. 6, a federal appeals court will hear a challenge by Catholic Social Services to the city of Philadelphia's requirement that tax-funded child welfare organizations accept all qualified parents, including same-sex couples. Shannon Graves and Paige Davis are following the case closely for good reason: They are same-sex foster parents who often take care of LGBTQ kids. | When we learned that
(2018-11-05). Headlines for November 5, 2018. democracynow.org U.S. Reinstates Harsh Sanctions on Iran After Nuclear Deal Withdrawal, Florida: Self-Proclaimed Misogynist Kills 2, Injures 5 in Tallahassee, Georgia Secretary of State and GOP Candidate Launches Probe into Dem. Party, Obama Campaigns for Vulnerable Senate Democrats Ahead of Midterms, Kansas Republican Kris Kobach Took Donations from White Nationalists, Trump Praises "Beautiful" Razor Wire as Soldiers Deploy to Border, NBC Airs Racist Anti-Immigrant Trump Campaign Commercial, Nigerian Military Tweets Trump Video to Justify Shooting Protesters, U.N.: A Yemeni Child Dies Every 10 Min. from War-Caused Disease, Hunge…
(2018-11-05). SPLC urges Trump administration to preserve measures that protect immigrant children from detention. splcenter.org Jenny Lisette Flores came to America at 15, fleeing civil war in El Salvador to find protection with family members in the U.S.
(2018-11-05). SPLC lawsuit: Family detained, searched in Mississippi because they 'looked' Latino. splcenter.org The Martinez family was traveling along a Mississippi highway — on their way to a vacation — when a sheriff's deputy stopped them for no apparent reason.
(2018-11-04). Civil Rights Leaders Unite to Deliver Message to Voters Ahead of Midterm Elections. naacp.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Vanessa Mbonu/ vmbonu@naacpnet.org Message Underscores the Importance of Elections Taking Place on November 6 BALTIMORE ≠(November 4, 2018)—With the midterm elections on Tuesday, NAACP has partnered with other prominent civil rights groups to release a special public service announcement (PSA) aimed at mobilizing voters in the last days of […]
(2018-11-03). Michelle Obama Urges NAACP Supporters to Get Out and Vote on Election Day. naacp.org BALTIMORE (November 3, 2018)—Former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, joins NAACP, the nation's largest civil rights organization, in its civic engagement campaign to increase African American voter turnout on Election Day, November 6. Mrs. Obama's collaboration comes in form of a Public Service Announcement (PSA) where she urges viewers to use their […]
(2018-11-03). Does Florida Believe in Second Chances? Election Day will Tell. naacp.org On Tuesday, Floridians will decide if 1.6 million people deserve a second chance. As the law stands now in the sunshine state, when it comes to the right to vote, 1.6 million ex-felons are left in the dark. This is the greatest number of ex-offenders who have lost their right to vote in any state. […]
(2018-11-03). Assange Case Shows Support for Free Speech Depends on Who's Talking. fair.org 
by Joe Emersberger Julian Assange, whom the UN has declared to be "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden, is used by the Guardian ( 10/17/18) to illustrate a gag story on "nightmare flatmates." | The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded in February 2016 that the governments of the UK and Sweden had forced WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange into a condition of arbitrary detention in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he has been since 2012. The group's (2018-11-02). Catholic Social Services Wants a License to Discriminate Against LGBTQ Foster Families. aclu.org The needs of those in the child welfare system should come first, not the religious preferences of agencies receiving taxpayer funds to care for them. | On Tuesday, a federal appeals court will hear oral argument in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, a case of great concern to advocates for children in foster care, the LGBTQ community, faith leaders, and states that are committed to ensuring non-discrimination in government programs. The ACLU is arguing in court for the Support Center for Child Advocates and Philadelphia Family Pride, who have inter…
(2018-11-02). Broad City's Ilana Glazer: Why I Canceled My Event at a NY Synagogue After Anti-Semitic Vandalism. democracynow.org 
A political event hosted by Ilana Glazer of Comedy Central's "Broad City" at the Union Temple Synagogue in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, was canceled Thursday night after anti-Semitic and racist messages were found scrawled on walls throughout the building. Among the messages were "Jew Better Be Ready" "Insert Oven Here" "End is now," "Hitler," "Free Smoke for [N-word] Jews" and "FPEE PR." The graffiti comes amid a surge in anti-Semitic hate crimes nationwide, including Saturday's massacre of 11 Jewish worshipers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. Amy Goodman was scheduled to speak at the event about cove…
(2018-11-02). Get Ready for the Shake-Up: Grassroots Candidates Drive Midterm Surge. progressive.org While Donald Trump rallies the rightwing base with flagrant appeals to fear, anger, and racism, the most diverse slate of candidates in U.S. history is poised to change the direction of the nation's politics for a long time to come.
(2018-11-01). Hatewatch Headlines 11/2/2018. splcenter.org Trump's immigration ad is flat-out racist; tech firms needs to take online hate seriously; funding for anti-extremism work is cut; and more.
(2018-10-29). Why We Need More School Leaders of Color, Especially in White Districts. progressive.org Racism in the classroom leaves white students racially illiterate.
(2018-10-29). Trump Plays Pocahontas Card Again. . . And Takes the Trick! progressive.org When I hear people like the Cherokee Nation's Hoskins Jr. bashing Warren for her claim, it occurs to me that Trump's racism has found a footing in tribal politics.