(2018-11-14). Truth serum? New CIA 'torture program' docs shed light on post-9/11 'Project Medication'. rt.com 
A CIA report obtained by the ACLU lays bare the details of the agency's "enhanced interrogation" program, including tactics so disturbing even CIA agents were reluctant to implement them.
(2018-11-14). NAACP Statement on FDA Plan to Ban Sale of Menthol and E-Cigarettes. naacp.org NAACP released the following statement following reports of the Food and Drug Administration's proposal to ban menthol cigarettes: "The NAACP is pleased to hear of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) plan to ban the sale of menthol cigarettes and restrict the sale of flavored e-cigarettes. For decades, data have shown that the tobacco industry […]
(2018-11-14). Attorney General Jeff Sessions is Fired. naacp.org On November 7, 2018, Jefferson "Jeff" Beauregard Sessions III resigned his position as U.S. Attorney General at the request of President Trump. The NAACP had strongly opposed then-Senator Sessions' confirmation to this position in early February, 2017. Going forward, the NAACP strongly urges President Trump to nominate an individual to serve as Attorney General who has […]
(2018-11-14). Illegal Colonists Burn A Palestinian Car In Nablus (Video). imemc.org A group of fanatic illegal Israeli paramilitary settlers infiltrated, on Wednesday at dawn, into Orif village, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, burnt a Palestinian car, and wrote racist graffiti. Media sources in Nablus said the assailants burnt a car, owned by Mahmoud Mahfouth Shehada, after causing …
(2018-11-14). 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.
(2018-11-14). 30 Of Brian Kemp's Felonious Racist Vote Suppression Crimes. indybay.org Kemp cut 1.4 million voters from rolls, used police intimidation of voters and vote registration workers, sued a woman for helping her blind father to vote, was court ordered to count the provisional ballots he locked out, refused to honor Democrat black and nonblock requests for absentee ballots, has not counted absentee ballots delayed in the mail by tornadoes, has not counted military ballots, has eliminated tens of thousands of Democrat votes based on fraudulent handwriting analysis, decimated number of voting machines available in black areas causing waits of 3 or 4 hours and more, refused to recuse himself…
(2018-11-13). Secret CIA Document Shows Plan to Test Drugs on Prisoners. aclu.org 
New documents reveal the detailed, first-person account of the top CIA medical professional responsible for torturing prisoners. | Thanks to an ACLU victory in federal court, we know much more about how CIA doctors violated the medical oath to "do no harm." | One of the most important lessons of the CIA's torture program is the way it corrupted virtually every individual and institution associated with it. Over the years, we have learned how lawyers …
(2018-11-13). How Georgia's Probation System Squeezes the Poor and Feeds Mass Incarceration. aclu.org Poor Georgians are falling victim to probation policies that enrich private companies and contribute to recidivism rates. | Charles " Skip" Eckartz, a 63-year-old disabled veteran, and his wife, Virginia "Ginny" Eckartz, were arrested in their Georgia home for manufacturing marijuana. They were incarcerated for five days until Ginny was able to use the small inheritance she'd received after her mother's death as collateral for their bond. | Although all of the charges were dropped…
(2018-11-13). NAACP Calls Mississippi Candidate Hyde-Smith's Hanging Comments "Sick" naacp.org BALTIMORE— (November 11, 2018) The NAACP issued the following statement regarding Mississippi Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith recent statement on being invited to a public hanging. "Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith's shameful remarks prove once again how Trump has created a social and political climate that normalizes hateful and racist rhetoric. We've seen this in Florida from Ron DeSantis […]
(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.
(2018-11-13). Trump Points to Polls in France, Where 80 Percent Say He's a Dangerous, Incompetent Racist. theintercept.com 
Donald Trump mocked Emmanuel Macron for having a low approval rating in France, apparently unaware that French citizens have a far lower opinion of him.
(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…
(2018-11-13). White cop kills Black security guard in Chicago suburb. fightbacknews.org Chicago, IL — Black Community leader Frank Chapman condemned the November 12 killing of an African American security guard, Jemel Roberson, by a white police officer from the Midlothian Police Department in the Chicago suburb of Robbins. | "Every city in the U.S. where Black people live has the same crisis of police accountability. Until Black people have the power to determine who polices them and how they are policed, cops will brutalize, torture and murder us with impunity," said Chapman, of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. | When he was killed by the police officer, Robers…
(2018-11-13). Voters oust corrupt, racist Cook County judge. peoplesworld.org 
CHICAGO—For the first time in 28 years, citizens in Cook County have voted a judge off the bench. The involvement of Circuit Court Judge Matthew Coghlan, a former prosecutor, in the wrongful conviction of two Chicago men was the impetus for the campaign against his retention. In order to keep his seat, Coghlan needed at …
(2018-11-13). CNN sues Trump over White House ban on Jim Acosta. rt.com 
CNN has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the revocation of press credentials from its reporter Jim Acosta. The suit alleges the ban violated both First and Fifth Amendment rights of the network and reporter.
(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?
(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…
(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.
(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
(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
(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 …
(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). 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
(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…
(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). 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…
(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). 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 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). 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). 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). 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…
(2018-11-07). 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). 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). 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 […]
(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 […]
(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). 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 […]
(2018-11-06). The West is Failing Julian Assange. consortiumnews.com While media focused on Julian Assange's cat rather than his continuing arbitrary detention, evidence shows Britain worked hard to force his extradition to Sweden where Assange feared he'd be turned over to the U.S., as Stefania Maurizi explains. By Stefania… Read more →
(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…
(2018-11-03). 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). 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.
(2018-10-29). 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.
(2018-10-18). A Tribute to Ron Dellums, Radical. zcomm.org Ron Dellums appreciated the struggle against racism is permanently joined with those against sexism, militarism, and capitalism…
(2018-10-18). Trump Administration's Warped View of Religious Freedom Abroad. zcomm.org Religious freedom arguments are increasingly being used to challenge anti-discrimination policies and access to services…
(2018-10-11). Dreaming political concepts in Iran and the US: Huey Newton and Ali Shariati, through the movie Black Panther. zcomm.org Dreaming political concepts in Iran and the US: Huey Newton and Ali Shariati, through the movie Black Panther In the movie Black Panther, N'Jobu is residing in Oakland, California as a Wakandan spy when he's troubled by the racism faced by black Americans. T'Chaka, the king of Wakanda, considers N'Jobu's plot of Read more…
(2018-09-05). Censored Documentary Exposes the Israeli Government's Attack on Black Lives Matter. grayzoneproject.com Exclusive footage from the censored Al Jazeera documentary, "The Lobby — USA," shows Israeli government officials taking credit for attacks…