Daily Archives: 2018-11-13

2018-11-13: News Headlines

RT (2018-11-13). Illinois prisons to retrain staff after transgender inmate who feels like 'sex slave' sues (DEBATE). rt.com After multiple lawsuits from a prisoner who claimed she felt like a 'sex slave' in male prisons, the Illinois Department of Corrections is mandating staff training in "transgender issues." Is it a special privilege or necessity?

wsws (2018-11-13). Fujimori's new detention sets reconfiguration of Peruvian politics. wsws.org The leader of Fuerza Popular (FP), Keiko Fujimori, was sentenced to 36 months of "preventive detention" while being investigated in the Odebrecht scandal.

kathy_f (2018-11-13). Call to unite against racism. greenleft.org.au About 300 people rallied against racism in Melbourne on November 10. The rally was organised in response to the continued vilification of Melbourne's African community by politicians and the media. | Praise and Shema, two high school students from the Liberian and Sudanese communities, addressed the rally. They called for an end to media attacks on the African community. | Islamic Council of Victoria's Adel Salman told the rally that the media needs a code of ethics and to stop promoting hate speech. | Taqi Azra, a Hazara refugee and National Union of Workers organiser, said: "They are trying to divide us. L…

Patrick Cockburn (2018-11-13). The Midterm Results are Challenging Racism in America in Unexpected Ways. counterpunch.org In 1898 the state of Louisiana held a constitutional convention with the declared aim of disenfranchising black people and perpetuating white rule. "Our mission was, in the first place, to establish the supremacy of the white race in this state to the extent to which it could be legally and constitutionally done," reads the official journal of the convention. Legal means were found to scrub 130,000 registered black voters from the rolls and allow juries to come to non-unanimous verdicts in felony trials, including those involving the death penalty.

Labor Video Project (2018-11-13). STOP The WARS! Paris Protests Trump & Macron's War Crimes On Armistice Day 2018. indybay.org While Trump was in Paris for Armistice Day a protest was held against the wars, racism and misogyny of his government. Protesters also talked about the war crimes of not only Trump but the Macron government and privatization.

RT (2018-11-12). CNN could be about to sue Trump over Acosta ban. rt.com CNN seems to be setting the wheels in motion for a lawsuit against the White House regarding the revocation of reporter Jim Acosta's press credentials.

If Americans Knew (2018-11-12). Israeli Forces Detain 8-year-old Palestinian Child Near Hebron. globalresearch.ca According to Defense for Children International, Israel is the only country in the world that automatically prosecutes children in military courts that lack basic and fundamental fair trial guarantees. | The majority of Palestinian child detainees are charged with throwing …

Eva Bartlett (2018-11-12). Media Ignores the Plight of Kirill Vyshinsky: A Russian Journalist Imprisoned Without Trial in Ukraine. mintpressnews.com Eva Bartlett speaks with journalist Vladimir Rodzianko on the detention of Kirill Vyshinsky by Ukraine since May 2018. Ukrainian authorities accuse Vyshinsky of "treason" and have delayed his trials twice.

Democracy Now! (2018-11-12). Headlines for November 12, 2018. democracynow.org Over 30 Killed and 200 Missing in California Wildfires, Gov. Brown Blames Climate Change for Fires as Trump Blames California, Thousand Oaks Evacuated for Wildfires Days After Deadly Mass Shooting, Florida Recounts Underway in Contested Senate and Governor Races, Senate Race in AZ Still Uncalled as CA District Flips to Democrats, MS Senate Candidates Head to Runoff as GOP Incumbent Under Fire for Racist Joke, FBI Probing "Scam Company" Where Acting AG Matt Whitaker Once Served, Trump Continues Attacks on Black Women Reporters, In Final Act as AG, Sessions Limits Police Abuse Consent Decrees, Trump Skips Paris Pea…

Shared by Samantha Borek (2018-11-12). The Charleston and Tree of Life Shootings Are Connected Struggles. truthout.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. | Janine Jackson: On October 5, Fox host Maria Bartiromo asked Sen. Chuck Grassley if he thought George Soros was "behind" public criticism of Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination — or, as she …

wsws (2018-11-12). UK: SNP-led Glasgow City Council uses gender politics and threats of blacklisting to isolate equal pay struggle. wsws.org To obscure the class issues, the major parties, together with the unions and the media, have presented the Glasgow equal pay dispute in terms of "institutionalized" gender discrimination.

RT (2018-11-11). The #Resistance is suddenly OK with Sessions, the family separation advocate. rt.com Despite having formerly labeled Jeff Sessions as a racist and white supremacist, members of the #Resistance are now ready to welcome him with open arms if it helps them remove Trump.

RT (2018-11-11). Firefighter sacked over inflammatory 'joke' about hunting migrants on US border. rt.com A Texas firefighter has been sacked over an inflammatory and 'racist' social media post in which he appeared to suggest hunting immigrants along the US border with Mexico.

Vanessa Mbonu@naacpnet (2018-11-09). NAACP Demands for Georgia Election Officials to Promptly Investigate Pattern of Georgia Students Being Denied the Right to Vote. naacp.org BALTIMORE(November 9, 2018)—NAACP, the nation's foremost civil rights organization, sent a letter to Georgia elections officials just two days after the state's too-close-to-call elections, demanding a prompt investigation into reports that Georgia student voters were turned away from polling stations, unable to vote. Others were improperly required to vote provisional ballots. The letter cites two instances where university students […] | The post

aclu (2018-11-09). The White House Unleashes More Attacks on Reproductive Health Care. aclu.org The White House released rules this week attacking insurance coverage for abortion and birth control. | On Tuesday, voters turned out in record numbers for the midterm elections — and there is good evidence that health care motivated many of them to head to the polls. They voted to …

aclu (2018-11-09). President Trump's Proclamation Suspending Asylum Rights Is Illegal, So We're Suing. aclu.org Refugees fleeing violence have a right to declare asylum regardless of how and where they enter the country. | Claiming that the illegal entry of immigrants across the southern border of the United States is a national crisis, President Trump on Friday issued a proclamation purporting to bar the entry of all persons entering the United States at any place other than an official port of entry. | The Trump administration's action is contrary to the founding values of the country — welcoming homeless refugees to our shores. It also violates U.S. law, so we, along with the

splcenter (2018-11-09). SPLC sues Trump administration over president's asylum ban. splcenter.org The SPLC filed a federal lawsuit today against the Trump administration's asylum ban, challenging an interim final rule that was issued yesterday and a presidential proclamation that President Trump signed this morning.

aclu (2018-11-09). Before Resigning, Jeff Sessions Handcuffed the Justice Department's Ability to Police the Police. aclu.org The former attorney general's last action all but eliminates federal oversight of abusive law enforcement agencies. | In his final move as attorney general, Jeff Sessions on Wednesday issued a new policy that all but eliminates federal oversight of state and local law enforcement agencies that engage in unconstitutional and unlawful policing. While Sessions — a white man with money and political connections — will likely never be personally affected by this policy change, his decision to sabotage the legal instruments of federal civil rights enforcement is going to harm people and communities of color…

stuart_m (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…

aclu (2018-11-09). Jeff Sessions Leaves a Dark Mark on the Justice Department. aclu.org Sessions' Justice Department systematically undermined civil liberties and civil rights. | Under almost any other circumstances, the firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions would be a moment for dancing in the streets. Sessions oversaw a Justice Department that systematically undermined civil liberties and civil rights. | But his departure portends no improvement on these fronts. And the fact that President Trump

pip.hinman (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…

aclu (2018-11-09). Jeff Sessions Was the Worst Attorney General in Modern American History. aclu.org From immigration to transgender rights, Attorney General Jeff Sessions showed contempt for American civil rights and liberties. | On Wednesday, the Trump administration bid farewell to one of its most infamous members: Attorney General Jeff Sessions. In his brief tenure, Sessions managed to dismantle and rescind an astounding range of efforts by prior administrations to protect civil rights and civil liberties and introduced new policies that endanger some of the most vulnerable citizens in the U.S. | From his draconian approach to immigration policy to his efforts to erase protections for transgender people to h…

Vanessa Mbonu@naacpnet (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 […]

aclu (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 …

Fight Back (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…

Fred_F (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…

Hatewatch Staff (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.

Democracy Now! (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…

aclu (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…

splcenter (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.

Rachel Johnson (2018-11-07). NAACP LAUNCHES ALL IN CAMPAIGN, TO RECRUIT, RETAIN AND ENGAGE NEW MEMBERSHIPS. naacp.org National membership campaign launches just one day after a momentum building midterm election. BALTIMORE (November 7, 2018) — Just one day after the 2018 midterm elections, NAACP, the nation's foremost civil rights organization, continues the momentum by launching an ALL IN national membership campaign aimed at mobilizing NAACP units to increase their membership at least 20 percent by its […]

Aba Blankson (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 […]

Democracy Now! (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…

Rachel Johnson (2018-11-07). NAACP Youth and College Division National Director, Tiffany Dena Loftin Responds to 2018 Midterm Election Results. naacp.org National Director of the NAACP Youth and College Division, Tiffany Dena Loftin issued the following statement regarding the results of the 2018 midterm elections: "The 2018 midterm elections confirmed once again that young Black voters are some of the most trustworthy and dedicated voters in the country. Over the course of the last few months […]

aclu (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…

aclu (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…

Regan Farley (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 […]

Democracy Now! (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,"

Vanessa Mbonu@naacpnet (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 […]

Vanessa Mbonu@naacpnet (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

Regan Farley (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

Consortiumnews (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 →

Janine Jackson (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…

aclu (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…

splcenter (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.

splcenter (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.

Joe Emersberger (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 …

Ruth Conniff (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.

Mark Anthony Rolo (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.

Rann Miller (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.

2018-11-13: Social Media Postees

Illinois prisons to retrain staff after transgender inmate who feels like 'sex slave' sues (DEBATE)
RT | rt.com | 2018-11-13
After multiple lawsuits from a prisoner who claimed she felt like a 'sex slave' in male prisons, the Illinois Department of Corrections is mandating staff training in "transgender issues." Is it a special privilege or necessity? | …
rt.com/usa/443806-illinois-transgender-prisons-lawsuit/

Fujimori's new detention sets reconfiguration of Peruvian politics
wsws | wsws.org | 2018-11-13
The leader of Fuerza Popular (FP), Keiko Fujimori, was sentenced to 36 months of "preventive detention" while being investigated in the Odebrecht scandal.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2018/11/13/peru-n13.html

Call to unite against racism
kathy_f | greenleft.org.au | 2018-11-13
About 300 people rallied against racism in Melbourne on November 10. The rally was organised in response to the continued vilification of Melbourne's African community by politicians and the media. | Praise and Shema, two high school students from the Liberian and Sudanese communities, addressed the rally. They called for an end to media attacks on the African community. | Islamic Council of Victoria's Adel Salman told the rally that the media needs a code of ethics and to stop promoting hate speech. | Taqi Azra, a Hazara refugee and National Union of Workers organiser, said: "They are trying to divide us. L…
greenleft.org.au/content/call-unite-against-racism

STOP The WARS! Paris Protests Trump & Macron's War Crimes On Armistice Day 2018
Labor Video Project | indybay.org | 2018-11-13
While Trump was in Paris for Armistice Day a protest was held against the wars, racism and misogyny of his government. Protesters also talked about the war crimes of not only Trump but the Macron government and privatization.
indybay.org/newsitems/2018/11/12/18819044.php

CNN could be about to sue Trump over Acosta ban
RT | rt.com | 2018-11-12
CNN seems to be setting the wheels in motion for a lawsuit against the White House regarding the revocation of reporter Jim Acosta's press credentials. | …
rt.com/usa/443698-cnn-could-be-about-to/

Media Ignores the Plight of Kirill Vyshinsky: A Russian Journalist Imprisoned Without Trial in Ukraine
Eva Bartlett | mintpressnews.com | 2018-11-12
Eva Bartlett speaks with journalist Vladimir Rodzianko on the detention of Kirill Vyshinsky by Ukraine since May 2018. Ukrainian authorities accuse Vyshinsky of "treason" and have delayed his trials twice. | The post Media Ignores the Plight of Kirill Vyshinsky: A Russian Journalist Imprisoned Without Trial in Ukraine appeared first on MintPress News.
mintpressnews.com/media-ignores-the-plight-of-kirill-vyshinsky-a-russian-journalist-imprisonment-without-trial-in-ukraine/251736/

UK: SNP-led Glasgow City Council uses gender politics and threats of blacklisting to isolate equal pay struggle
wsws | wsws.org | 2018-11-12
To obscure the class issues, the major parties, together with the unions and the media, have presented the Glasgow equal pay dispute in terms of "institutionalized" gender discrimination.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2018/11/12/glas-n12.html

The #Resistance is suddenly OK with Sessions, the family separation advocate
RT | rt.com | 2018-11-11
Despite having formerly labeled Jeff Sessions as a racist and white supremacist, members of the #Resistance are now ready to welcome him with open arms if it helps them remove Trump. | …
rt.com/usa/443653-resistance-suddenly-ok-with-sessions/

Firefighter sacked over inflammatory 'joke' about hunting migrants on US border
RT | rt.com | 2018-11-11
A Texas firefighter has been sacked over an inflammatory and 'racist' social media post in which he appeared to suggest hunting immigrants along the US border with Mexico. | …
rt.com/usa/443669-firefighter-migrant-hunt-comments/

SPLC sues Trump administration over president's asylum ban
splcenter | splcenter.org | 2018-11-09
The SPLC filed a federal lawsuit today against the Trump administration's asylum ban, challenging an interim final rule that was issued yesterday and a presidential proclamation that President Trump signed this morning.
splcenter.org/news/2018/11/09/splc-sues-trump-administration-over-president%25E2%2580%2599s-asylum-ban

President Trump's Proclamation Suspending Asylum Rights Is Illegal, So We're Suing
aclu | aclu.org | 2018-11-09
Refugees fleeing violence have a right to declare asylum regardless of how and where they enter the country. | Claiming that the illegal entry of immigrants across the southern border of the United States is a national crisis, President Trump on Friday issued a proclamation purporting to bar the entry of all persons entering the United States at any place other than an official port of entry. | The Trump administration's action is contrary to the founding values of the country — welcoming homeless refugees to our shores. It also violates U.S. law, so we, along with the Cen…
aclu.org/blog/immigrants-rights/deportation-and-due-process/president-trumps-proclamation-suspending-asylum

NAACP Demands for Georgia Election Officials to Promptly Investigate Pattern of Georgia Students Being Denied the Right to Vote
Vanessa Mbonu@naacpnet | naacp.org | 2018-11-09
BALTIMORE(November 9, 2018)–NAACP, the nation's foremost civil rights organization, sent a letter to Georgia elections officials just two days after the state's too-close-to-call elections, demanding a prompt investigation into reports that Georgia student voters were turned away from polling stations, unable to vote. Others were improperly required to vote provisional ballots. The letter cites two instances where university students […] | The post NAACP Demands…
naacp.org/latest/naacp-demands-georgia-election-officials-promptly-investigate-pattern-georgia-students-denied-right-vote/

Trump challenged on trans and gender diverse discrimination
stuart_m | greenleft.org.au | 2018-11-09
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…
greenleft.org.au/content/trump-challenged-trans-and-gender-diverse-discrimination

Jeff Sessions Was the Worst Attorney General in Modern American History
aclu | aclu.org | 2018-11-09
From immigration to transgender rights, Attorney General Jeff Sessions showed contempt for American civil rights and liberties. | On Wednesday, the Trump administration bid farewell to one of its most infamous members: Attorney General Jeff Sessions. In his brief tenure, Sessions managed to dismantle and rescind an astounding range of efforts by prior administrations to protect civil rights and civil liberties and introduced new policies that endanger some of the most vulnerable citizens in the U.S. | From his draconian approach to immigration policy to his efforts to erase protections for transgender people to h…
aclu.org/blog/criminal-law-reform/jeff-sessions-was-worst-attorney-general-modern-american-history

Before Resigning, Jeff Sessions Handcuffed the Justice Department's Ability to Police the Police
aclu | aclu.org | 2018-11-09
The former attorney general's last action all but eliminates federal oversight of abusive law enforcement agencies. | In his final move as attorney general, Jeff Sessions on Wednesday issued a new policy that all but eliminates federal oversight of state and local law enforcement agencies that engage in unconstitutional and unlawful policing. While Sessions — a white man with money and political connections — will likely never be personally affected by this policy change, his decision to sabotage the legal instruments of federal civil rights enforcement is going to harm people and communities of color…
aclu.org/blog/criminal-law-reform/reforming-police-practices/resigning-jeff-sessions-handcuffed-justice

Civil rights under threat in name of national security
pip.hinman | greenleft.org.au | 2018-11-09
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…
greenleft.org.au/content/civil-rights-under-threat-name-national-security

Minnesota protest says 'no' to military at the border, 'yes' to asylum for migrants
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2018-11-08
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…
www.fightbacknews.org/2018/11/7/minnesota-protest-says-no-military-border-yes-asylum-migrants

NAACP Statement on Brian Kemp's Resignation as Georgia Secretary of State
Vanessa Mbonu@naacpnet | naacp.org | 2018-11-08
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 […] | The post NAACP Statement on Brian Kemp's Resignation as Georgia Secretary of State appeared first on NA…
naacp.org/latest/naacp-statement-brian-kemps-resignation-georgia-secretary-state/

Hatewatch Headlines 11/8/2018
Hatewatch Staff | splcenter.org | 2018-11-08
Voters punished Republicans for their racism; Trump rips black reporter's 'racist' query; Governors can stop militias from massing on border; and…
splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/11/08/hatewatch-headlines-1182018

Silent marches continue to highlight Aboriginal deaths in custody
Fred_F | greenleft.org.au | 2018-11-08
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…
greenleft.org.au/content/silent-marches-continue-highlight-aboriginal-deaths-custody

Trump Fires AG Sessions, Installs New Loyalist Whitaker to Oversee Mueller Probe
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2018-11-08
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…
www.democracynow.org/2018/11/8/trump_fires_ag_sessions_installs_new

The Trump Administration Thinks Your Employer Should Make Your Birth Control Decisions
aclu | aclu.org | 2018-11-08
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…
aclu.org/blog/reproductive-freedom/birth-control/trump-administration-thinks-your-employer-should-make-your

NAACP LAUNCHES ALL IN CAMPAIGN, TO RECRUIT, RETAIN AND ENGAGE NEW MEMBERSHIPS
Rachel Johnson | naacp.org | 2018-11-07
National membership campaign launches just one day after a momentum building midterm election. BALTIMORE (November 7, 2018) — Just one day after the 2018 midterm elections, NAACP, the nation's foremost civil rights organization, continues the momentum by launching an ALL IN national membership campaign aimed at mobilizing NAACP units to increase their membership at least 20 percent by its […] | The post NAACP LAUNCHES ALL IN CAMPAIGN, TO RECRUIT, RETAIN AND ENGAGE NEW MEMBERSHIPS appeared first on
naacp.org/latest/naacp-launches-campaign-recruit-retain-engage-new-memberships/

New York Registration Deadline Prevents Tens of Thousands From Voting
aclu | aclu.org | 2018-11-07
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…
aclu.org/blog/voting-rights/fighting-voter-suppression/new-york-registration-deadline-prevents-tens-thousands

The 2018 Midterm Elections Were a Big Win for Criminal Justice Reform Ballot Initiatives
aclu | aclu.org | 2018-11-07
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…
aclu.org/blog/smart-justice/2018-midterm-elections-were-big-win-criminal-justice-reform-ballot-initiatives

Midterm elections in Trump era bring high engagement from racists, extremists
splcenter | splcenter.org | 2018-11-07
When Donald Trump ran for president in 2016, racists, neo-Nazis and alt-right extremists embraced his candidacy with enthusiasm.
splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/11/07/midterm-elections-trump-era-bring-high-engagement-racists-extremists

NAACP President Derrick Johnson's Response to the Results of the 2018 Midterm Election
Aba Blankson | naacp.org | 2018-11-07
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 […] | The post NAACP President Derrick Johnson's Response to the Results of the 2018 Midterm Election appeared first on NAACP.
naacp.org/latest/naacp-president-derrick-johnsons-response-results-2018-midterm-election/

NAACP Youth and College Division National Director, Tiffany Dena Loftin Responds to 2018 Midterm Election Results
Rachel Johnson | naacp.org | 2018-11-07
National Director of the NAACP Youth and College Division, Tiffany Dena Loftin issued the following statement regarding the results of the 2018 midterm elections: "The 2018 midterm elections confirmed once again that young Black voters are some of the most trustworthy and dedicated voters in the country. Over the course of the last few months […] | The post NAACP Youth and College Division National Director, Tiffany Dena Loftin Responds to 2018 Midterm Election Results…
naacp.org/latest/youth-college-division-national-director-tiffany-dena-loftin-responds-2018-midterm-election-results/

NAACP STATEMENT ON JEFF SESSIONS RESIGNATION
Regan Farley | naacp.org | 2018-11-07
"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 […] | The post NAACP STATEMENT ON JEFF SESSIONS RESIGNATION appeared first on NAACP.
naacp.org/latest/naacp-statement-jeff-sessions-resignation/

Women of Color Hope to Make History in 2018 Election with Wins in Congress and Governor's Races
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2018-11-06
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,"
www.democracynow.org/2018/11/6/women_of_color_hope_to_make

NAACP Organizes Voter Protection Command Center at Baltimore Headquarters
Vanessa Mbonu@naacpnet | naacp.org | 2018-11-06
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 […] | The post NAACP Organizes Voter Protection Command Center at Baltimore Headquarters appeared first on
naacp.org/latest/naacp-organizes-voter-protection-command-center-baltimore-headquarters/

TODAY: NAACP PRESIDENT DERRICK JOHNSON JOINS ATLANTA COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO TURN OUT VOTERS IN HISTORIC 2018 MIDTERM ELECTION
Vanessa Mbonu@naacpnet | naacp.org | 2018-11-06
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 TODAY: NAACP PRESIDENT DERRICK JOHNSON JOINS ATLANTA COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO TURN OUT VOTERS IN HIST…
naacp.org/latest/today-naacp-president-derrick-johnson-joins-atlanta-community-members-turn-voters-historic-2018-midterm-election/

NAACP Unites in Demand to Make Panama City Florida Polling Sites Accessible to Hurricane Victims
Regan Farley | naacp.org | 2018-11-06
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 NAACP Unites in Demand to Make Panama City Florida Polling Sites Accessible to Hurricane Victi…
naacp.org/latest/naacp-unites-demand-make-panama-city-florida-polling-sites-accessible-hurricane-victims/

The West is Failing Julian Assange
Consortiumnews | consortiumnews.com | 2018-11-06
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 ?…
consortiumnews.com/2018/11/06/the-west-is-failing-julian-assange/

'Charleston and Tree of Life Are Connected Struggles' – CounterSpin interview with Audrey Sasson on antisemitism, racism and resistance
Janine Jackson | fair.org | 2018-11-06
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…
fair.org/home/charleston-and-tree-of-life-are-connected-struggles/

The Supreme Court Will Decide Whether Maryland Can Display a 40-Foot Latin Cross
aclu | aclu.org | 2018-11-06
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…
aclu.org/blog/religious-liberty/government-promotion-religion/supreme-court-will-decide-whether-maryland-can

SPLC lawsuit: Family detained, searched in Mississippi because they 'looked' Latino
splcenter | splcenter.org | 2018-11-05
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.
splcenter.org/news/2018/11/05/splc-lawsuit-family-detained-searched-mississippi-because-they-%25E2%2580%2598looked%25E2%2580%2599-latino

SPLC urges Trump administration to preserve measures that protect immigrant children from detention
splcenter | splcenter.org | 2018-11-05
Jenny Lisette Flores came to America at 15, fleeing civil war in El Salvador to find protection with family members in the U.S.
splcenter.org/news/2018/11/05/splc-urges-trump-administration-preserve-measures-protect-immigrant-children-detention

Get Ready for the Shake-Up: Grassroots Candidates Drive Midterm Surge
Ruth Conniff | progressive.org | 2018-11-02
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.
progressive.org/dispatches/get-ready-for-the-shake-up-grassroots-candidates-midterms-181102/

Why We Need More School Leaders of Color, Especially in White Districts
Rann Miller | progressive.org | 2018-10-29
Racism in the classroom leaves white students racially illiterate.
progressive.org/public-school-shakedown/racist-educators-harm-white-students-too-181029/

Trump Plays Pocahontas Card Again. . . And Takes the Trick!
Mark Anthony Rolo | progressive.org | 2018-10-29
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.
progressive.org/dispatches/trump-plays-the-pocahontas-card-181029/