(2018-09-08). Immigrant Parents: Reuniting With Children Is 'Too Dangerous'. telesurtv.net "We've had very difficult conversations with the parents this week," Lee Gelernt of the ACLU told a federal judge in San Diego.
(2018-09-08). This School Year, Let's Keep Kids in Classrooms. truthout.org It's no secret that our country incarcerates people of color at much higher rates than white people. What might be less well known is that this can begin in the classroom. | Across the country, schools routinely punish, suspend, and expel students of color at higher rates than white students — setbacks that can follow students for years. Those were the findings of a new Institute for Policy Studies report called Students Under Siege. | I saw this firsthand going to school in Indiana. A report by the Indiana Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights found that Indiana "ranks second in the country in its rate of black male out-of-school suspensions" and "ranks fourth in the rate of black female out-of-school suspensions." | It's not an issue of one group…
(2018-09-08). NAACP Calls for Investigation into Kavanaugh Testimony. naacp.org Released Records Indicate Misleading and False Statements BALTIMORE (September 8, 2018)—The nation's foremost civil rights organization issued the following statement regarding the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court. At the close of Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court, the NAACP calls upon the Senate to […]
(2018-09-08). Prisoners Strike Across America & Canada to End Penal Enslavement. therealnews.com 
Prisoners Across US & Canada go on hunger and work strike to protest no wages/low wages, end of solitary confinement, for education programs & an end to mass incarceration
(2018-09-07). Can the Wall Between Church and State Survive Brett Kavanaugh? aclu.org The Supreme Court nominee's testimony this week signals an intent to weaken the separation of church and state. | Public schools are educational institutions, not temples of religious indoctrination. For over half a century, the Supreme Court has thus recognized that the Constitution prohibits public schools from imposing prayer on children and that religious education is the province of parents and religious communities, not government bureaucrats. | On Wednesday, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, however, strongly suggested that he disagrees and that, if confirmed, he will vote to weaken the separation of…
(2018-09-07). Repealing the Death Penalty in New Hampshire Is Personal. aclu.org The state's legislature has an opportunity to override the governor's veto and finally repeal the death penalty. | New Hampshire is the only state in New England that still puts people to death. The Northeast region, and much of the nation, has recognized capital punishment for what it is: a practice of a bygone era that is inherently unjust, often racially charged, and has resulted in the torture of individuals put to death. | This could change for New Hampshire on Sept. 13, when state legislators have an opportunity to override
(2018-09-07). Trump Will Order DOJ to Investigate Anonymous Op-Ed Author — And Possibly Sue the New York Times. alternet.org 
The president supported his actions by claiming national security is at stake. | President Donald Trump says he will ask the Dept. of Justice to investigate who wrote the damning anonymous op-ed that's made headlines for days — and made the president furious. He will also ask the DOJ to investigate the New York Times, possibly including suing the paper, according to various reports. Reports from Air Force One: (2018-09-07). Watch Kavanaugh Refuse to Say if He Personally Believes Gay People Shouldn't Be Fired for Their Identity. alternet.org 
Multiple attempts resulted in the stubborn nominee declining to answer the question. | Judge Brett Kavanaugh is refusing to say whether or not he personally believes it is wrong to fire someone for being gay. The U. S. Supreme Court nominee was asked the very direct question Thursday evening by (2018-09-07). As 400+ Children Remain Separated from Parents, Trump Admin Wants to Detain Kids Indefinitely. democracynow.org 
The Trump administration is attempting to remove court-imposed time limits on the detention of immigrant children. The administration's proposal would allow immigrant families to be held in detention indefinitely, ending the long-standing 1997 Flores agreement which says that children cannot be jailed for more than 20 days. More than 400 children remain separated from their parents more than a month after a court-imposed deadline requiring the Trump administration to reunite all of the separated families. The American Civil Liberties Union says it appears ICE officials had access to the phone numbers of hundreds…
(2018-09-07). Trump administration to abandon court settlement prohibiting indefinite detention of immigrant children. wsws.org The decision is a major escalation in the administration's attack on immigrants.
(2018-09-07). Headlines for September 7, 2018. democracynow.org Sen. Cory Booker Releases Kavanaugh Documents in Act of "Civil Disobedience", New Documents Contradict Kavanaugh's Sworn Testimony, Kavanaugh Conflates Birth Control with Abortion, Trump Admin Seeks to Allow Indefinite Detention of Immigrant Families, ICE, DOJ Subpoena Millions of North Carolina Voting Records, Top Trump Admin Officials Deny They Penned Scathing Anonymous Op-Ed, Baghdad Massacre Trial for Blackwater Mercenary Ends in Hung Jury, Gunman Kills Three at Cincinnati Bank, Then Shot Dead by Police, Cincinnati Officer Who Tased 11-Year-Old Girl Will Face Discipline, Jury Gives $1 Fine to Man Who Punched…
(2018-09-07). Support Kaepernick, But Boycott Nike. counterpunch.org 
Yes, boycott Nike! But not for the reasons of compulsory patriotism. I unapologetically support Colin Kaepernick and his politics. Ending police brutality, mass incarceration, and the school-to-prison pipeline, challenging White supremacy, and uplifting inner-city youth are cornerstones of my own politics. I also support and respect his choice to become the face of Nike. I More
(2018-09-06). I Fought for Our Country. Now NFL Players Are Kneeling for Me. aclu.org A Black military veteran explains why he supports NFL players' decision to kneel during the national anthem. | I'm a veteran of the U.S. Army. So it may come as a surprise that the day I read about NFL players kneeling during the national anthem, I could not have been prouder. I was proud because after serving my country for seven years, it felt like someone was finally looking out for me. | As someone who served as a sergeant in Afghanistan, only to take a civilian job helping veterans upon returning home, I fully understand patriotism. I work hard to embody it every day. That's precisely why I think it's so im…
(2018-09-06). John McCain's Replacement Has a History of Undermining Civil Liberties. aclu.org The newly sworn-in senator from Arizona is hostile to civil liberties. | On Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence swore in Jon Kyl as the new senator from Arizona, replacing the late John McCain. | Kyl previously served in the Senate from 1995 and 2013, where he built up a clear record of opposition to civil liberties, proposing to make the Patriot Act permanent and supporting amendments to the Constitution to undermine free expression, equal protection, and due process. | He more recently develop…
(2018-09-06). Panelists: Kavanaugh 'would repeal the 20th century'. peoplesworld.org 
(2018-09-05). Congress, Don't Throw More Money at Donald Trump's Weaponized Department of Homeland Security. aclu.org A bigger DHS budget would reward the White House's cruel immigration enforcement policies of detention and deportation. | As summer ends, the country's political eyes are focusing even more intently on midterm elections. Although a new Congress is not far away, there remain major budgetary issues to resolve. The most immediate deadline for people concerned about President Trump's immigration policies is September 30, when fiscal year 2018 ends. , , For the Department of Homeland Security, reports (2018-09-05). Detroit Police Racially Harass and Retaliate Against One of Their Own. aclu.org A Black officer is suing the city of Detroit and its police department for racial harassment and retaliation he suffered. | To America's shame, there is nothing novel about police harassment and abuse of young Black men. Consequently, few should be surprised that during an early January morning in 2017, Johnny Strickland was harassed, humiliated, and abused by a group of white Detroit police officers. At least, there should be no surprise until it is learned that Strickland himself is an 11-year veteran of the Detroit Police Department. | Officer Strickland's nightmare began when he attempted to complete an erran…
(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). 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). 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). "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…
(2018-09-03). NAACP Supports Prisoners Across the Nation Protesting Long Sentences, Inhumane Conditions, and Forced Labor. naacp.org As the nation celebrates Labor Day, we must recognize those that labor every day for pennies per hour in prisons, jails, and detention centers across the country. Many imprisoned individuals are conducting peaceful protests to call for an end to unnecessarily long sentences, prison conditions that respect human rights, and fair wages for a day's […]
(2018-09-01). NAACP on Kavanaugh's Troubling Civil Rights Record. naacp.org NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson issued the following statement on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh: "This Senate hearing on Brett Kavanaugh's nomination should not go forward. The President is in personal legal jeopardy and only a fraction of Kavanaugh's record has been produced. To proceed now threatens the legitimacy of the Senate's constitutional review […]
(2018-09-01). Action Alert: Tell Your Senators Why Kavanaugh's SCOTUS Nom Hearings Must Wait Until After Midterm Elections. naacp.org U.S. Senate Hearings on NAACP-Opposed Supreme Court Nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh Scheduled to Begin Tuesday, September 4, 2018 Urge your senators to move Brett Kavanaugh's nomination until after the midterm elections and the 116th senate to be seated in January 2019 has time to fully review his record. The Issue: On July 9, 2018, President […]
(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). Civil Rights Leaders Honor Aretha Franklin. naacp.org NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson joined esteemed civil rights leaders from around the country today in Detroit to honor the life and legacy of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. The day was filled with reflection, personal stories and above all a message to serve a higher purpose, commemorating Aretha Franklin's legacy as an […]
(2018-08-31). Brett Kavanaugh Poses a Severe Threat to Civil Rights: the Senate Must Reject His Nomination. naacp.org NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson issued the following statement on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh: "This Senate hearing on Brett Kavanaugh's nomination should not go forward. The President is in personal legal jeopardy and only a fraction of Kavanaugh's record has been produced. To proceed now threatens the legitimacy of the Senate's constitutional review […]
(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). 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). Real Housewives Skit Dishonors Legacy of Civil Rights Icons. naacp.org Baltimore, MD — The nation's leading civil rights organization is denouncing a recent parody which depicts several Civil Rights leaders in a vulgar and inappropriate manner. "As we commemorate the March on Washington, we must remain vigilant in educating those who may not understand the impact the leading women of the Civil Rights Movement had on our […]
(2018-08-27). NAACP Statement on Birmingham, Alabama's Right to Clean Soil and a Healthy Environment. naacp.org The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People released the following statement in response to recent reports regarding environmental cleanup efforts in the Inglenook neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama. "NAACP maintains its commitment to uphold the rights of all people to pollution remediation and clean soil," said Jacqueline Patterson, Director, NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program. "As […]
(2018-08-27). NAACP Celebrates the 55th Anniversary of the March on Washington. naacp.org 
This week marks the 55th anniversary of the pivotal March on Washington. Visit naacp.org/marchonwashington to see pictures and more about the march and enjoy all the links below: History: The March on Washington Originally conceived by renowned labor leader A. Phillip Randolph and Roy Wilkins, Executive Secretary of the NAACP, the historic March on Washington […]
(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…