(2019-04-12). Civil Rights Groups and Pro-war Republicans—An unholy Alliance in the Soft War Against China. counterpunch.org Last month, Mike Pompeo, amidst his soft war campaign to undermine the governments of Venezuela, Iran, and Lebanon, expressed concern for the 'abhorrent' allegations of Chinese Muslim internment. Pompeo, currently working to destabilize a number of Global South nations and groups, did not suddenly develop a moral consciousness for the plight of Muslims. Rather, his More
(2019-04-12). In Trump's America, Even Nielsen Wasn't Cruel Enough. truthdig.com Kirstjen Nielsen's cruelty toward immigrants over the past year was apparently not enough for President Donald Trump. Nielsen, the Department of Homeland Security secretary who resigned under pressure Monday after holding her position for just over a year, left behind a legacy stained by the forced separation of thousands of migrant families. Under her watch at least 2,654 children were removed from their parents' care. | What's worse, Nielsen refused to acknowledge the reality of what she had done. After…
(2019-04-12). Headlines for April 12, 2019. democracynow.org Julian Assange's Lawyers Vow to Fight His Extradition to the United States, Ecuadorean Ex-President Criticizes Successor for Allowing Assange to Be Arrested, Trump Claims "I Know Nothing About WikiLeaks" Despite Praising Site Repeatedly in 2016, Sudanese Protesters Denounce Military Rule, Call for Civilian Government, Report: White House Pushed Plan to Send Migrants to Sanctuary Cities to Punish Dems, Official Who Compared Family Detention Centers to Summer Camps Set to Become Head of ICE, More Offshore Drilling Feared as Senate Confirms Ex-Oil Lobbyist to Head Interior, Report: Amazon, Netflix, IBM, Chevron Paid…
(2019-04-12). No longer anonymous: MSU student breaks silence on campus sexual assault. peoplesworld.org 
Last year a courageous victim of sexual assault at Michigan State University, known only to the public as "Jane Doe," filed a lawsuit against her three attackers, and shined a light on MSU's culture of silence when allegations of sexual assault arise. On April 11, exactly one year after filing the legal complaint and four years …
(2019-04-12). What Ivanka Told Us About Trump's Meeting With el-Sisi. counterpunch.org 
Ivanka Trump, daughter of the US president and wife of Middle East "expert" Jared Kushner — he who has supposedly produced a Middle East "peace plan" to be revealed after Benjamin Netanyahu wins the Israeli elections — has just given her support to a regime which has locked up women political prisoners, "disappeared" others, and whose army forcibly carried out virginity tests More
(2019-04-12). Shredding Asylum: the Arrest of Julian Assange. counterpunch.org 
The man seemed like a bearded emissary, a holy figure nabbed in his sleep. He looked similarly pale as to how he did in 2013, but he cut a more shocking figure. Most prisoners would have had room to move in a compound. The Ecuadorean embassy in London only offered modest space and access to More
(2019-04-12). The Unfinished Gaza War: What Netanyahu Hopes to Gain from Attacking Palestinian Prisoners. counterpunch.org The current violence targeting Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails dates back to January 2. It was then that Israel's Public Security Minister, Gilad Erdan declared that the "party is over." "Every so often, infuriating pictures appear of cooking in the terrorist wings. This party is coming to an end," Erdan was quoted in the Jerusalem More
(2019-04-12). Why the Highlander Attack Matters. thenation.com Why the Highlander Attack Matters…
(2019-04-12). Shredding Asylum: The Arrest of Julian Assange. globalresearch.ca The man seemed like a bearded emissary, a holy figure nabbed in his sleep. He looked similarly pale as to how he did in 2013, but he cut a more shocking figure. Most prisoners would have had room to move …
(2019-04-12). Shredding Asylum: The Arrest of Julian Assange. dissidentvoice.org The man seemed like a bearded emissary, a holy figure nabbed in his sleep. He looked similarly pale as to how he did in 2013, but he cut a more shocking figure. Most prisoners would have had room to move in a compound. The Ecuadorean embassy in London only offered modest space and access to …
(2019-04-12). Rise in suicide attempts in Texas prisons alarms advocates. peoplesworld.org …
(2019-04-12). Bernie Sanders Wants Incarcerated People to Vote. Here's Why He's Right. commondreams.org A Puerto Rican prison inmate casts his ballot, as prisoners voted two days early in the Democratic primary, at Correctional Institute 501, in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, on May 30, 2008. (Photo: Brennan Linsley / AP file) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/prison_0.jpeg…
(2019-04-12). Historic Lawsuit Filed by Homeless People in Santa Cruz to Block Eviction of Survival Camp. indybay.org Hero's Camp (behind Ross at the Gateway Plaza), River Street, Santa Cruz…
(2019-04-12). Australian actor Geoffrey Rush wins defamation lawsuit against Murdoch media. wsws.org The judgment delivers a powerful blow against the anti-democratic methods and activities of the #MeToo movement, including its rejection of due process and of the presumption of innocence.
(2019-04-12). ACLU Letter to Santa Cruz City Council Opposes Ross Camp Closure. indybay.org On April 8, the ACLU of Northern California and the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty sent a joint letter to the Santa Cruz City Council opposing the closure of the Ross homeless encampment. "[W]e are concerned about any plan to criminalize the living behaviors of residents of the Ross Camp, either directly or indirectly. Due to the lack of available shelter bed, Martin bars the City from carrying out such a plan," the letter states.
(2019-04-12). 'A More Just and Equitable Future': Advocates Welcome Markey's Privacy Bill of Rights. commondreams.org Advocates for strengthening personal data protections welcomed Sen. Ed Markey's Privacy Bill of Rights Act, introduced Friday, as "necessary to ensuring that fairness, privacy, and civil rights flourish in the internet age." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-109661575211.jpg…
(2019-04-12). How You Can Be Certain the US Charge Against Assange is Fraudulent. theantimedia.com (CJ Opinion) — Julian Assange sits in a jail cell today after being betrayed by the Ecuadorian government and his home country of Australia. A British judge named Michael Snow has found the WikiLeaks founder guilty of violating bail conditions, inserting himself into the annals of history by labeling Assange "a narcissist who cannot get beyond his own …
(2019-04-12). Protesters Call on UK to #FreeAssange Outside British Embassy in Washington DC. theantimedia.com (MPN) — Demonstrators gathered on Thursday — just hours after the arrest of Wikileaks publisher Julian Assange by UK authorities — outside of the British Embassy in Washington D.C. to denounce the unprecedented affront to freedom of the press. Protesters also took the opportunity to highlight the injustice of the jailing of Chelsea Manning over her refusal to …
(2019-04-12). Indian elections: the challenges of unseating a racist. greenleft.org.au 
Elections in India will take place from April 11 to May 23. Green Left Weekly's Susan Price spoke to Kavita Krishnan, a member of the politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation (CPI-ML) about their campaign to challenge Narendra Modi's far-right Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. | In which seats is the CPI-ML fielding candidates? Are there opportunities for the left to coordinate efforts to defeat the BJP? | The CPI-ML is contesting 22 seats [across 10 states]: 4 in Bihar; 3 each in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab; 2 each in West Bengal, Jharkand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu…
(2019-04-12). Betsy DeVos Quietly Making It Easier for Dying For-Profit Schools to Rip Off a Few More Students on the Way Out. theintercept.com 
The Obama administration initially dithered while for-profit colleges preyed on students, but eventually it cracked down on the sector. Not Betsy DeVos.
(2019-04-12). Single mother takes action against ParentsNext 'mission impossible'. greenleft.org.au 
Single mother of three Juanita McLaren lodged a complaint in the United Nations in March against the Australian government over its discrimination against single mothers. | McLaren is being supported by the National Council of Single Mothers and their Children which wants the parenting payments' scheme and the newly-introduced ParentsNext program to be held up to greater scrutiny. | Since 2012, single parents have been moved from the single parenting payment (now $384.25 a week) to the News…
(2019-04-12). Toe the line or go to jail: Tulsi Gabbard says Assange arrest is a message to Americans. rt.com 
2020 candidate Tulsi Gabbard has spoken out against the US government's plans to extradite and punish WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange, calling it a "blow to transparency and a blow to a free press." |
(2019-04-12). The US Government is Still Fighting to Keep the Truth About CIA Torture Secret. theantimedia.com The U.S. government is still afraid to reveal the full extent of torture used on terror suspects in the years following the 9/11 attacks, but do the American people even care anymore? (TMU) — A recent report by The New York Times explores the case of Majid Khan, a prisoner of the United States who plead …
(2019-04-12). Worldwide outrage over arrest of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange. wsws.org After nearly seven years of confinement to the Ecuadorian embassy in London, Assange now faces the possibility of a year in a UK prison and extradition to the United States.
(2019-04-11). The Martyrdom of Julian Assange. truthdig.com The arrest Thursday of Julian Assange eviscerates all pretense of the rule of law and the rights of a free press. The illegalities, embraced by the Ecuadorian, British and U.S. governments, in the seizure of Assange are ominous. They presage a world where the internal workings, abuses, corruption, lies and crimes, especially war crimes, carried out by corporate states and the global ruling elite will be masked from the public. They presage a world where those with the courage and integrity to expose the misuse of power will be hunted down, tortured, subjected to sham trials and given lifetime prison terms in soli…
(2019-04-11). The American Public Deserves to See the Mueller Report With as Few Redactions as Possible. aclu.org Considering the "extraordinary public interest" in the Mueller report, any redactions made by Attorney General Barr must be limited and defensible. | Few matters are of greater public interest than the contents of the report produced by Special Counsel Robert Mueller on his recently completed investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election, alleged collusion with the Trump administration, and any interference with the Mueller investigation. Attorney General William Barr has conceded that there is extraordinary public interest in the report. Yet there remain grave concerns that he will r…
(2019-04-11). Sacked Tory bigot generates as much media controversy as you'd expect. thecanary.co 
The Tory adviser Roger Scruton indulged in some choice racism the other day — a move which saw him lose his position: On Roger … | Read more Sacked Tory bigot generates as much media controversy as you'd expect | By John Shafthauer
(2019-04-11). The Unfinished Gaza War: What Netanyahu Hopes to Gain from Attacking Palestinian Prisoners. dissidentvoice.org The current violence targeting Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails dates back to January 2. It was then that Israel's Public Security Minister, Gilad Erdan declared that the "party is over." "Every so often, infuriating pictures appear of cooking in the terrorist wings. This party is coming to an end," Erdan was quoted in the Jerusalem …
(2019-04-11). NAACP'S RESPONSE TO THE ARREST OF SUSPECT IN THE LOUISIANA CHURCH BURNINGS. naacp.org BALTIMORE — The NAACP issued the following statement regarding the arrest of Holden Matthews in connection to fires at three historically Black churches in Louisiana: "The arrest of Holden Matthews for the horrific burnings of Black churches in Louisiana is just another example of the hate-fueled times that we live in. In African-American communities in …
(2019-04-11). Betsy DeVos Uses a Racist Research Study to Defend Rescinding Obama-Era Discipline Guidance. progressive.org The researchers argued that disparities in disciplining of black and white students are due to "prior problem behavior."
(2019-04-11). As Brazil descends into fascism, UK MPs call for the 'world's most prominent political prisoner' to be freed. thecanary.co Former presidential frontrunner Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva — known as Lula — was jailed in April 2018. One year later, his prosecutors are … | Read more As Brazil descends into fascism, UK MPs call for the 'world's most prominent political prisoner' to be freed | By John McEvoy
(2019-04-11). Beyond Prisons: Message From Liberation Through Reading. shadowproof.com The following is a quick message delivered on behalf of our friends at Liberation Through Reading. | They have an event coming up in Philadelphia, PA on Saturday, April 13th at the A-Space (4722 Baltimore Avenue) from 12PM-4PM, gifting Black children with free Black books. Details are below. | Contact Erica Caines at ericacaines@gmail.com |
| In almost 2 years, #LiberationThroughReading has gifted well over 1000 BRAND NEW representative books to Black children of all reading levels. Each book gifted features Black characters and written by Black authors. | After hosting several events in Anne Arundel County,…
(2019-04-11). 'Love After Lockup' and Its Subtle Message of Prison Abolition. thenation.com 'Love After Lockup' and Its Subtle Message of Prison Abolition…
(2019-04-11). Ahmed Abu Artema on the Palestinian Great March of Return. progressive.org "The only possible option for them is to continue knocking on the walls of their prison with the hope that the world will hear them."
(2019-04-11). British police arrest Julian Assange in Ecuadorian embassy. wsws.org "Assange's expulsion from the embassy and his arrest are unprecedented crimes," said James Cogan, the national secretary of the SEP (Australia). "A journalist and publisher, who has committed no crime, has had his asylum terminated and has been dragged off to prison in violation of repeated UN rulings upholding his status as a political refugee."
(2019-04-11). No fair trial awaits Assange at US 'Espionage Court,' only more charges — CIA whistleblower Kiriakou. rt.com 
WikiLeaks' Julian Assange is facing extradition and a trial at a US court infamous for sending whistleblowers to jail. CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou, whose case was tried there says there won't be a fair trial for Assange.
(2019-04-11). Unsealed Assange indictment proves Chelsea Manning's imprisonment is 'purely punitive' — legal team. rt.com 
Chelsea Manning's team has demanded her release in light of the revelation that US charges against Julian Assange were filed over a year before her arrest on contempt charges — proving her prosecution has been "purely punitive."
(2019-04-11). Assange's prosecution would be 'unconstitutional' & may backfire on US journalists — ACLU. rt.com 
In response to the arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in London, the American Civil Liberties Union's (ACLU) Ben Wizner released a statement highlighting the serious danger his prosecution would pose for all journalists.
(2019-04-11). Parkland victims file 22 lawsuits claiming negligence led to bloodshed. rt.com 
A barrage of lawsuits filed by Parkland victims and survivors blame Broward County Sheriff's Office and the school district for their failure to prevent the massacre, alleging gross negligence by officials.
(2019-04-10). The American People Support LGBTQ Equality. Congress Should Too. aclu.org Opponents of equality are spewing myths about transgender people and nondiscrimination protections on Capitol Hill. | In the past seven days, the House of Representatives has held two historic hearings on the Equality Act, HR 5, a bipartisan bill that would add explicit protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity to our civil rights laws, and update the laws to provide increased protection for all women and people of color. What was most notable from…
(2019-04-10). The BE HEARD Act Will Overhaul Workplace Harassment Laws. aclu.org The groundbreaking, comprehensive bill takes on workplace harassment and discrimination. | For more than a decade, Tarana Burke and survivors across the country have used #MeToo to share their experiences of sexual violence, raise women's voices, and respond to the needs of survivors. In its current incarnation, #MeToo has sparked an unprecedented examination of sexual harassment, including sexual assault, in our workplaces, and illuminated the multiple manifestations of workplace discrimination. | In the midst of this historic reckoning, the ACLU and coalition partners drafted and shared with members of Congress…
(2019-04-10). Congressional Action to End the Bans—Now and Into the Future. aclu.org Trump thought he won, but Members of Congress are pushing back. | For the first time since President Trump issued his Muslim ban, Congress proposed a legislative solution today to protect immigrant communities from discriminatory bans, immediately and permanently. | The long-awaited NO Ban Act, introduced by Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.), would immediately rescind the Muslim ban as well as President Trump's asylum ban and refugee ban, definitively ending these discriminatory abus…
(2019-04-10). Freed MOVE 9 revolutionaries wed. workers.org 
Mike and Debbie Africa, MOVE 9 members unjustly imprisoned in 1978, were finally released in 2018. The MOVE 9 were falsely convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the killing of a white cop during a brutal police assault on their house. On April 6 Debbie and Mike were . . . | Continue reading Freed MOVE 9 revolutionaries wed at Workers.org
(2019-04-10). Cuban men thrown into Louisiana prisons despite legal asylum requests. splcenter.org Suicide. Self-harm. Medical neglect. Isolated in segregation. Quarantined and left without legal counsel.
(2019-04-09). Utah Passed a Law to Protect Noncitizens From Automatic Deportation. aclu.org By reducing the maximum penalty for a misdemeanor by one day, lawmakers reduced the harm of an unfair federal immigration law | Utah is known for its red rock canyons, steep ski slopes, and a mega-majority Republican legislature. And now it can be recognized as one of just a handful of states to pass legislation that helps noncitizens avoid deportation if they are convicted of a misdemeanor. | The bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Gary Herbert on March 25, clarifies that misdemeanor convictions in Utah can no longer be interpreted as aggravate…
(2019-04-09). Trump Picks Family Separation Advocate Kevin McAleenan to Be Acting Secretary of Homeland Security. aclu.org By elevating McAleenan, the president has signaled that he seeks to maximize cruelty. | With his selection of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Kevin McAleenan to serve as acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), President Trump has once again shown that he has no regrets over his administration's disastrous policy of separating families. | McAleenan was one of the three DHS officials to recommend the cruel and inhumane policy to outgoing Secretary Kirstjen…
(2019-04-09). Kirstjen Nielsen's Cruel Legacy: Outgoing DHS Secretary Proudly Separated Families & Caged Children. democracynow.org 
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has been forced out of her role at the helm of President Trump's immigration policy after reportedly resisting a move by the president to revive his family separation policy at the U.S. border. We look at Nielsen's legacy with Renée Feltz, a Democracy Now! correspondent and producer who has long reported on the criminalization of immigrants, family detention and the business of detention. Nielsen oversaw Trump's "zero tolerance" family separation policy last year and came under fire by Democrats for lying to Congress about the policy, as well as for withh…
(2019-04-09). Stephen Miller's Uncle: Trump's Anti-Immigrant Comments Demonize Asylum Seekers & Stir Racist Hatred. democracynow.org 
As his administration intensifies anti-immigrant policies at the border, President Trump has reportedly put adviser Stephen Miller in charge of the administration's immigration policy. The Wall Street Journal reports Miller has backed the reinstatement of Trump's family separation policy and has been pushing officials at the Homeland Security and Justice Departments to "get in line" with a more hard-line immigration approach. This news comes as Trump told the Republican Jewish Coalition leadership Saturday, "Our country's full. What can you do? We can't handle any more. Our country is full." We speak with Stephen…
(2019-04-09). Protests Across Brazil and the World for the Release of Lula, "Political Prisoner" therealnews.com 
On the anniversary of the imprisonment of former Workers Party president Lula da Silva, tens of thousands protested in Brazil and around the world demanded his release. Mike Fox reports from Curitiba, Brazil…
(2019-04-09). Iran says U.S. military forces in Middle East are part of terrorist group, after U.S. puts terrorist tag on Iran's military. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN – Iran's authoritative FARS News Agency is reporting the Supreme National Security Council has designated the United States Central Command as a terrorist entity, following a decision by the U.S. to put the terrorist tag on an important part of Iran's military – the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps. | The U.S. move to designate Iran's military as 'terrorist' violates international law and raised concerns about future treatment of prisoners of war. | The U.S. administration has been angered by Iran's support for progressive and anti-imperialist movements in Yemen, Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon. Iran ha…