(2019-01-10). There Are Thousands of Cyntoia Browns: Mariame Kaba on Criminalization of Sexual Violence Survivors. democracynow.org 
Cyntoia Brown was granted full clemency by Republican Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam on Monday after serving 15 years in prison. The decision follows months of intense public pressure and outrage over her case. Brown was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder for shooting her rapist as a teenager. She had been sexually trafficked and repeatedly abused and drugged. The shooting happened when Brown was just 16 years old, but she was tried as an adult. We speak with Mariame Kaba, organizer and educator who has worked on anti-domestic violence programs, anti-incarceration and racial…
(2019-01-10). 17 Years Later, Guantanamo Prison Remains a Threat to Human Rights. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2019-01-10). What Are We Working For? counterpunch.org 
Ever since I was a young boy, I have wondered why people do the kinds of work they do. I sensed early on that the economic system was a labyrinthine trap devised to imprison people in work they hated but needed for survival. It seemed like common sense to a child when you simply looked and listened to the adults around you. Karl Marx wasn't necessary for understanding the nature of alienated labor; hearing adults declaim "Thank God It's Friday" spoke volumes. More
(2019-01-10). US Senators Vote Down Anti-BDS Bill. telesurenglish.net The United States Senate has struck down a bill aimed at blocking any boycott of Israel spearheaded by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement Tuesday, a bill which lawmakers and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have heavily criticized. | RELATED: | Bernie Sanders Slams 'Absurd' Anti-BDS Bill Amid Gov't Shutdown | Legislation reaf…
(2019-01-10). William Barr Was an Ardent Champion of Mass Incarceration. aclu.org The last time he was attorney general, Barr proclaimed that only prisons reduce crime, and that we need a lot more of them. | In 1992, a little less than a year into his new job, Attorney General William P. Barr added to the zeitgeist of "tough-on-crime" policies when he issued the Bush administration's " 24 Recommendations to Strengthen Criminal Justice." Barr's harsh approach, which included expanding capacity for pretrial detention and offsetting the cost of such expansion with the labor of inmates, was distilled by the Office of Policy…
(2019-01-10). What Are Federal Employees' Rights to Protest the Government Shutdown? aclu.org People don't lose their First Amendment rights if they work for the government. | Standing up for your First Amendment right to protest can be challenging — especially if you're a government employee. | Since Dec. 22, nearly 800,000 government employees nationwide have been affected by the partial federal government shutdown, putting a stop to work and paychecks. Despite President Trump's claim that federal workers " agree 100 percent with what I'm doing," many have wond…
(2019-01-10). Facing Mass Deportation, Haitians Sue Trump to Preserve Temporary Protected Status. democracynow.org 
A New York City trial is challenging the Trump administration's attempt to end temporary protected status—known as TPS—for more than 50,000 Haitians living in the U.S. Tens of thousands of Haitians were granted TPS after an earthquake devastated their country nine years ago this week. In November 2017, the Trump administration announced it would revoke TPS for Haitians, sparking protests and multiple lawsuits around the country. We speak with Marleine Bastien, executive director the Family Action Network Movement, or FANM, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. She testified on Wednesday as a witness i…
(2019-01-10). Nation's Top Teachers Will Hold 'Teach In' at Child Detention Camp. zcomm.org In February, educators will gather outside a massive detention camp for migrant children and stage a 24-hour "teach in"
(2019-01-10). Trump's Labor Department Wants to Drug-Test Applicants for Unemployment Benefits. aclu.org Blanket drug-testing likely violates the Fourth Amendment's prohibition on unreasonable searches. | What if you lost your job? It could happen to anyone, right?, , In 2016, 19.9 million people were laid off or discharged. What if you needed unemployment benefits to sustain you between jobs? That's not unreasonable either. There were 1.83 million people collecting unemployment benefits last spring. But what if you h…
(2019-01-10). SPLC launches campaign with NAACP, other organizations to remove Confederate symbols across Georgia. splcenter.org The SPLC joined other advocacy organizations and elected officials today in demanding change to a Georgia state law that prohibits local communities from removing Confederate monuments.
(2019-01-10). Pennsylvanians Should Know How the State Police Is Monitoring Social Media. aclu.org The Pennsylvania State Police is blocking access to its social-media-monitoring policy by claiming it could harm "public safety." | "Sunshine is the best disinfectant.", , That's a line that is used so much that it's become almost trite. But it's oft-repeated because it is so true. And here in the Keystone State, the Pennsylvania State Police is doing everything in its power to block access to its policy on monitoring social media. So we're headed to the state Supreme Court to get it. | The ACLU of Pennsylvania's attempt to obtain the st…
(2019-01-10). Mexico Releases 16 Political Prisoners, 368 Cases Under Review. telesurenglish.net Mexico's Interior Minister Olga Sanchez announced that 16 political prisoners had been released so far and that the federal government is reviewing the 368 cases of people illegally detained. | RELATED: | Mexico: AMLO Fights Fuel Theft, Fresh Shortages | In a press conference Tuesday, Sanchez said federal authorities confirmed that in some cases people detained had no sentence due to lack of evidence of any crime. "We have bee reviewing 368 cases we have on the table and we have freed 16, many o…
(2019-01-10). Lawsuit: Maryland's anti-BDS law 'chills' free speech. aljazeera.com The Council on American Islamic Relations filed a lawsuit claiming that Maryland's anti-BDS law violates free speech.
(2019-01-10). Far-right News Outlet Spreads Fake Ocasio-Cortez Photos. telesurenglish.net Freshman Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) has come out against news organizations who are working hard to discredit or embarrass her. | ANALYSIS: | Green New Deal 101: The Basics of a Bold Progressive Policy | Far-right and right-wing media outlets and random social media trolls have been ramping up their attacks against progressive candidates…
(2019-01-10). Thousands of Garment Workers Demonstrate in Bangladesh. telesurenglish.net Bangladeshi police fired tear gas and water cannons to break up tens of thousands of garment workers demonstrating for higher wages Thursday, forcing dozens of factories to close. Thursday marked the fifth day of protests. | RELATED: | Bangladesh Creating Island 'Prison Camps' for Rohingya Refugees | Bangladesh is the world's second biggest garment exporter behind China. This week, the Bangladeshi government said it would consider demands for an increase in the minimum wage, afte…
(2019-01-10). Trump Administration is Intent on Weakening Civil Rights Enforcement. counterpunch.org When new U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was asked on "60 Minutes" whether she thinks President Donald Trump is a racist, she responded with the candor that makes her a compelling force in Washington: "Yeah, yeah, no question." This, of course, lit up the social media, with Trump supporters denouncing Ocasio-Cortez and progressives praising her. One would think More
(2019-01-10). US: Union Sues Trump Administration Over Government Shutdown. telesurenglish.net The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) filed a lawsuit Tuesday against U.S. President Donald Trump's administration for the partial closure of the government, the Washington Post reported. | RELATED: | Trump Deploys Fear Tactics in Making Case For Steel Border Wall | In justifying this class action suit, the plaintiffs contend that more than 400,000 federal employees – who are considered "essential" due to their jobs being related to human life safety or property protectio…
(2019-01-10). In defense of human rights and Angela Davis. peoplesworld.org 
This week, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) in Alabama came under fire after reversing its decision to honor the famed activist, educator, and philosopher Dr. Angela Davis. Davis, who has a long history in the civil rights movement as an advocate for the oppressed, was set to receive the institute's Fred Shuttlesworth Human Rights …
(2019-01-10). Women Politicals of the American Empire. counterpunch.org There have been many women dissenters who have been jailed by the American government as political prisoners. There are women in jail now who are undergoing punishment as perceived enemies of the American Empire. Two such women are nuclear resister Elizabeth McAlister and alleged "terrorist" Aafia Siddiqui. When I wrote about Pakistani-born Aafia Siddiqui as More
(2019-01-10). Resignations rock US civil rights institute after it strips Angela Davis of award over pro-BDS views. rt.com 
Three members quit the board of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute after its controversial decision to first award, then to rescind an award for iconic activist Angela Davis, following objections to her anti-Israel statements.
(2019-01-10). Restaurant manager suspended for throwing chair at black teen claims it was 'defensive' move (VIDEO). rt.com 
A Chicago restaurant manager has been suspended for throwing a chair at an unsuspecting black teen. The manger admitted his wrongdoing and argued that he was "defensive" following a number of alleged encounters with "black guys."
(2019-01-10). After 17 'Shameful' Years of Guantanamo Prison, Rights Group Demand 'Stain' on Nation's History Be Shuttered. commondreams.org On the eve of the 17th anniversary of Guantanamo Bay's opening, human rights advocates made yet another call Thursday for the prison to be closed and the dozens of prisoners held there to be transferred—calling attention back to an institution that has long since faded from American headlines. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gitmo-protest-white-house_0.jpg…
(2019-01-10). 'You Still Have Time to Contact Your Senators': Pressure to Block Anti-Boycott Bill Mounts as McConnell Aims for Thursday Vote. commondreams.org "Two federal judges have already found state laws that attempt to punish companies or individuals for boycotting Israel unconstitutional… Of course they are unconstitutional. They are also racist, aimed at keeping brown Palestinians down." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/mcconnell_israel_0.jpg…
(2019-01-10). US: Suit Filed Over Immigration FOIA Request. hrw.org 
| | An image of the first page of the complaint from a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed on behalf of Human Rights Watch by Nixon Peabody. | © 2019 Human Rights Watch | (San Francisco, January 10, 2019) — Human Rights Watch filed suit today against the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for their failure to respond adequately to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for detailed immi…
(2019-01-10). Unjustly Jailed Blogger Faces New Charges in Azerbaijan. hrw.org 
| | Mehman Huseynov. | © 2017 Aziz Karimov | Azerbaijan authorities know no limits when it comes to silencing government critics. As everyone was celebrating the New Year, Azerbaijan authorities were busy pressing new charges against one of the country's most popular anti-corruption bloggers, Mehman Huseynov. | Huseynov has been serving a 2-year prison sentence after he was prosecuted for defaming an entire police station in Baku, because he…
(2019-01-10). Finally, Clemency for Sexual Violence Survivor Cyntoia Brown. truthout.org Cyntoia Brown was granted full clemency by Republican Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam on Monday after serving 15 years in prison. The decision follows months of intense public pressure and outrage over her case. Brown was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder for shooting her rapist as a teenager. She had been repeatedly abused and drugged. The shooting happened when Brown was just 16 years old, but she was tried as an adult. We speak with Mariame Kaba, organizer and educator who has worked on anti-domestic violence programs, anti-incarceration and racial justice programs sinc…
(2019-01-09). Longtime Reporter Leaves NBC Saying Media Is "Trump Circus" That Encourages Perpetual War. democracynow.org 
"Prisoners of Donald Trump." That's how longtime NBC reporter and analyst William Arkin described the mainstream media in a scathing letter last week announcing he would be leaving the network, accusing the media of warmongering while ignoring the "creeping fascism of homeland security." He issued the blistering critique after a 30-year relationship with NBC, calling for "Trump-free" media days and a reckoning about how the network encourages a state of perpetual warfare. We speak with Arkin, whose award-winning reporting has appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post. He is the author…
(2019-01-09). Why Trump's Effort to Eliminate Disparate Impact Rules Is a Terrible Idea. aclu.org The Trump administration is reportedly looking for ways to do away with disparate impact rules, a move that could hurt millions of vulnerable people. | If no one tells you they're discriminating, is it still discrimination? | According to the Trump administration, the answer is no. In a memo reported by The Washington Post last week, the administration has placed in its cross hairs a civil rights enforcem…
(2019-01-09). Marco Rubio and His Colleagues Need a Refresher on the First Amendment. aclu.org Rubio took to Twitter to spread a number of downright false statements about the First Amendment and the Combating BDS Act. | This week, amid a partial government shutdown, senators tried to sneak through a bill that would encourage states to suppress constitutionally protected political boycotts of Israel. | Ultimately, the Combating BDS Act failed to make it to the Senate floor, largely because enough people exercised their First Amendment right to protest the bill and educate senators t…
(2019-01-09). William Barr Helped Build America's Surveillance State. aclu.org Senators should ask Barr about his support for unconstitutional spying that endangers our rights. | William Barr, President Trump's nominee for attorney general, has a history of getting it wrong. From designing warrantless surveillance programs to justifying the president's power to disregard acts of Congress, Barr has advanced dubious legal theories that have been rejected by the courts, Congress, and the public. | As Barr begins the confirmation process, senators must question Barr on his record regarding the right to privacy and the Fourth Amendment — which raises serious concerns about his suitability…
(2019-01-09). The Wall: The Perfect Prop for Trump's Racist Stagecraft. progressive.org Trump's political survival in the short term and in 2020 is dependent in keeping his base foaming at the mouth.
(2019-01-09). 'You Guys Are Coming Home'. thenation.com 'You Guys Are Coming Home'
(2019-01-09). Frank Chapman condemns shameful and cowardly decision to revoke award to Angela Davis. fightbacknews.org Chicago, IL — Longtime leader in the Black liberation movement and the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Frank Chapman, condemned the January 4 decision of the Alabama-based Birmingham Civil Rights Institute to abruptly cancel their plan to present Angela Davis with the Fred Shuttlesworth Award. Fred Shuttlesworth was a prominent leader in the civil rights movement. | Chapman stated, "Angela Davis and Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth were dearest friends and co-leaders in the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression at the same time that I served as its executive director."
(2019-01-09). "A Racist, Xenophobic Attack": Immigrant Rights Activist Decries Trump Remarks About Southern Border. democracynow.org 
President Donald Trump addressed the nation Tuesday night in his first prime-time speech from the Oval Office. He urged Congress to approve $5.7 billion to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, but he opted not to declare a national emergency to force construction of the wall, in a xenophobic speech riddled with falsehoods. We speak with Oscar Chacón, executive director of Alianza Americas, an immigrant rights group based in Chicago.
(2019-01-09). Chicano leader blasts Trump's racist, anti-immigrant speech. fightbacknews.org Los Angeles, CA — Longtime Chicano and immigrant rights leader Carlos Montes condemned President Trump's January 8 Oval Office speech, stating, "We are opposed to Trump's attacks on refugees at the border – and his wall. We will continue to oppose his measures, and build the movement to dump Trump." | Trump's push to further militarize the U.S. border has resulted in a prolonged partial government shutdown. | The Los Angeles community organization, Centro CSO, has called for a January 9 bannering in the Boyle Heights neighborhood, at the corner of 4th and Soto, from 4 to 6 p.m.
(2019-01-08). "Crime + Punishment" Exposes Racial Quotas in the NYPD & Retaliation Against Officers Who Speak Out. democracynow.org 
A group of New York Police Department officers are challenging what they call a racially charged policy of quotas for arrests and summonses. Known as the "NYPD 12," they risked their reputations and livelihoods to confront their superiors, fight illegal quotas and demand a more just police force. We look at a film following their story called "Crime + Punishment." It has just been shortlisted for an Academy Award for Best Documentary. We speak with Stephen Maing, the film's director and producer, and Lieutenant Edwin Raymond, the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit filed by the NYPD 12.
(2019-01-08). Freedom now for PFLP leader Ahmad Sa'adat. fightbacknews.org It's time to step up the struggle to free Ahmad Sa'adat, a noted Palestinian political prisoner and General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Sa'adat, who has been imprisoned for nearly 20 years, first by the corrupt and occupation-complicit Palestinian Authority, and now by the Israelis, has come to symbolize the resistance of the Palestinian people. He is a brilliant Marxist and advocate for socialism, who stands for liberation of every inch of Palestine. Sa'adat's courage in the face of the Israel's brutality shines as an example to everyone who yearns for a just world.
(2019-01-08). Despite the Efforts of Anti-LGBTQ Extremists, 'Drag Queen Story Time' Will Go On. aclu.org In a victory for the LGBTQ community of Lafayette, a Louisiana public library agreed to lift its unconstitutional ban on Drag Queen Story Time. | Last week, in response to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Louisiana, the Lafayette Public Library agreed to lift its unconstitutional ban on patrons organizing events called Drag Queen Story Time. | This was welcome news for our clients, the LGBTQ community, and everyone in Lafayette who will once again be able to use library space without being unfairly interrogated or censored by library officials. | Drag Queen Story Time was designed by Lafayette residents to give yo…
(2019-01-08). How we can defeat the neo-Nazis. greenleft.org.au 
On January 5, convicted neo-Nazi criminals Blair Cottrell, Neil Erikson and their followers, gathered on the foreshore of St Kilda Beach to vilify Sudanese Australians and once again scapegoat that community as "African gangs". | The group of 100 to 150 predominantly white males from various neo-Nazi gangs — The Lads, Soldiers of Odin and the Proud Boys — were racist and hostile towards the gathering counter protesters. | Erikson, a convicted stalker and former head of the neo-Nazi group the United Patriot Front, knows how to do hate speech and play the game on social media. The rally to "reclaim St K…
(2019-01-08). Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Detained Children Tortured. hrw.org 
| | Exterior of the Women and Children's Reformatory in Erbil, where several dozen children are held in pre-trial detention or are serving sentences for alleged ISIS affiliation. | © 2018 Jo Becker/Human Rights Watch | (Beirut) — The Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq is torturing children to confess to involvement with the Islamic State (ISIS), Human Rights Watch said today. | Children told Human Rights Watch tha…
(2019-01-08). Australia Starts Tackling Modern Slavery. hrw.org 
| | Women work in the sewing division of a factory in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital. Women constitute about 90 percent of the workforce in Cambodia's garment industry, which produces for many international apparel brands. Human Rights Watch has documented that workers in Cambodia frequently experience forced overtime, pregnancybased discrimination, and denial of paid maternity leave.
| © 2014 Samer Muscati/Human Rights Watch | A new law in Australia requires companies of a certain size operating in Australia to pu…
(2019-01-08). Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal Granted Right Of Appeal. therealnews.com 
The world's most renowned death-row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal has been granted the right of appeal after 30 years. Eddie Conway, former Black Panther wrongfully convicted and Imprisoned for 44 years himself, now released, discusses Mumia's case with Scholar Anthony Monteiro
(2019-01-07). Ari Berman: Dems Introduce Sweeping Voting Rights Bill to Combat Rampant Voter Suppression. democracynow.org 
Voting rights activists are hailing a new House bill that aims to restore voting rights to millions, crack down on the influence of dark money in politics, restore the landmark Voting Rights Act, establish automatic and same-day voter registration and other measures. The bill has been dubbed the For the People Act. It is the first piece of legislation introduced by the new Democratic majority in the House. We speak with Ari Berman, senior writer at Mother Jones, reporting fellow at The Nation Institute and author of "Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America." His latest piece is titled…
(2019-01-07). Nathan Damigo, founder of white nationalist group Identity Evropa, files for bankruptcy protection. splcenter.org The founder of the white nationalist group Identity Evropa is seeking federal bankruptcy protection in what appears to be a pre-emptive move stemming from a lawsuit over "Unite the Right."
(2019-01-07). UAW files lawsuit against GM to halt use of temporary workers. fightbacknews.org Washington, DC – The UAW filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court, January 2, against General Motors for breach of labor contract. The suit requests that the court order GM to transfer seniority union members to the Fort Wayne, Indiana Assembly Plant in keeping with the contractual agreement between the parties. GM is currently circumventing the agreement by using temporary employees. | There are approximately 1000 seniority employees on layoff nationwide, including 690 employees laid off at the Lordstown, Ohio Assembly Plant, many of whom have applied to transfer to openings at the Fort Wayne Plant.
(2019-01-07). See No Evil: Pentagon Issues Blanket Denial That It Knows Anything About Detainee Abuse in Yemen. theintercept.com A U.N. panel found that detainees in prisons controlled by U.S. allies were beaten, electrocuted, hung upside down, and raped.
(2019-01-05). An Unconscionable Shutdown. naacp.org Today marks day 14 of the partial government shutdown and importantly, it also marks the second week without pay for the 800,000 government workers and millions of others who depend on government agencies. It's unconscionable that Americans are forced to suffer the brunt and being held as political hostages because of President Trump's unreasonable pursuit […]
(2019-01-05). Exploring the institutional drivers of gender bias. zcomm.org The Social Institutions and Gender index (SIGI) was first launched in 2009, and then updated in 2012 and 2014. The fourth edition of the SIGI was launched in December 2018. The index uses these four dimensions to measure the institutional effects on gender parity: Discrimination in the family Restricted physical integrity Restricted access to productive Read more…
(2019-01-05). DR Congo: Voter Suppression, Violence. hrw.org 
| | A polling official counts votes in a school in Kinshasa after the Democratic Republic of Congo's general elections, December 30, 2018. | © 2018 Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images | (Kinshasa) — Widespread irregularities, voter suppression, and violence significantly marred elections on December 30, 2018 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Election officials should ensure that the announced results in the presidential, legislative, and provincial elec…
(2019-01-03). '50th NAACP Image Awards' To Air Live on Tv One March 30, 2019 from The Dolby Theatre In Hollywood. naacp.org 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE '50th NAACP IMAGE AWARDS' TO AIR LIVE ON TV ONE MARCH 30, 2019 FROM THE DOLBY THEATRE IN HOLLYWOOD 2 Hour Telecast to Spotlight and Celebrate 50 Years of NAACP Image Awards Significant Moments and NAACP Contributions During It's 110 Year History Reginald Hudlin and Phil Gurin to Return as […]