(2019-02-19). Voting Rights Act of 1965 may have to be passed again. peoplesworld.org 
(2019-02-19). Japanese American community slams Trump's National Emergency. fightbacknews.org San José, CA – On Sunday, February 17, more than 400 people filled the San Jose Buddhist Church gym for the 39th annual Day of Remembrance event. Across the country, Japanese American communities commemorate the anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which led to the incarceration of more than 100,000 Americans of Japanese descent during World War II. The San Jose event was organized by NOC, the Nihonmachi [Japantown] Organizing Committee. | This year's event came just two days after President Trump declared a National Emergency in order to build his wall on the Mexico-U.S. border. Criticism of this act and compari…
(2019-02-19). A Wisconsin School District Shrugged After High School Coaches Body-Shamed Cheerleaders. aclu.org Parents say staff are subjecting students to pervasive gender discrimination in the Kenosha Unified School District. | The cheerleaders at Tremper High School in Kenosha, Wisconsin, looked forward to the annual spring banquet as a time to celebrate their hard work in the company of over 100 friends and family members. What they never expected was for the banquet to become a humiliating exercise in body shaming. | In the banquet hall of a Kenosha restaurant in March 2018, the cheer coaches presented some squad members with…
(2019-02-19). Organizers Oust Amazon HQ2 From New York. commondreams.org Amazon provides much of the infrastructure for the Department of Homeland Security's immigration databases, the report points out, which means it holds the information that facilitates the mass surveillance, detention, and deportation of immigrants. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/amazon_3_0.jpeg…
(2019-02-19). Nationwide rallies protest "Trumped-up" national emergency. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON — Pouring into the streets of 234 cities nationwide to protest what one D.C. speaker termed a "Trumped-up — pun intended" crisis, tens of thousands of people demanded Congress end GOP President Donald Trump's "national emergency," which Trump declared so he could grab $6 billion to build his racist wall at the U.S.-Mexican border. …
(2019-02-19). U.S. racism and imperialism fuel turbulence in Haiti. peoplesworld.org 
Beginning on February 7, Haitians have been in the streets protesting against corruption, high prices, shortages, inflation, and power outages. Demonstrators are demanding that President Jovenel MoàØse, in power since January 2017, resign. MoàØse blames the disturbances on "armed groups and drug traffickers" and is calling for negotiation. Facing police brutality, masses of Haitians have blocked …
(2019-02-19). NAACP Challenge to Prison Gerrymandering Moves Forward, First Statewide Challenge in the Nation. naacp.org February 19, 2019 CONTACT: Malik Russell / mrussell@naacpnet.org / 443-610-0361 Vanessa Mbonu /vmbonu@naacpnet.org Doni Bloomfield /‚ÄØDoni.Bloomfield@ylsclinics.org Federal judge refuses to dismiss suit over discriminatory counting of incarcerated persons New Haven, CT (Feb. 19, 2019) — The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), together with the NAACP Connecticut State Conference and individual NAACP members, won a key ruling today that allows their …
(2019-02-19). The Movement and the U.S. 2020 Elections. The Role of Progressives and Social Movements. globalresearch.ca The political system in the United States is a plutocracy, one that works for the benefit of the wealthy, not the people. Although we face growing crises on multiple fronts — economic insecurity, a violent and racist state, environmental devastation, …
(2019-02-19). My Mother Has Been Homeless for 45 Years. Why Isn't Housing a Right? truthout.org Not long ago, I received a letter from my mother. It said, "I am homeless, again. I may be dead before you are released from prison. Love mom." | It felt like some cruel force punched through my chest and tore out my heart, then stomped on it. My mother did not write that letter to simply provide me with an update on how her life continues to unravel. My mother wrote that letter because it is nearly impossible to survive deep poverty on one's own. | Even though I am incarcerated, my mother views my release as her best chance to acquire stable housing. Most of our family members are too poor, troubled or addict…
(2019-02-19). Turkey: Courts being used to strangle media freedom. amnesty.org Responding to the decision of a Turkish first instance appeals court to uphold the conviction of journalists and executives from the Cumhuriyet newspaper, Amnesty International's Turkey Strategy and Research Manager, Andrew Gardner said: | "Today's ruling to send the former Cumhuriyet staff back to prison exposes yet again the way in which politically motivated trials and unsound court decisions are simply rubber stamped by an equally biased appeals process. |
(2019-02-19). EQUATORIAL GUINEA: HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND ACTIVISTS PAY A HIGH PRICE FOR SPEAKING OUT. amnesty.org This submission was prepared for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Equatorial Guinea in May 2019. In it, Amnesty International evaluates the implementation of recommendations made to Equatorial Guinea in its previous UPR, in particular on those recommendations in relation to situation of human rights defenders. | It also assesses legislation regulating NGO activities and its impact on freedom of association and sets out a number of cases of human rights defenders and activists who have been subjected to harassment, intimidation and arbitrary detention.
(2019-02-19). Iceland: Diverse bodies are not mistakes to be corrected. amnesty.org Individuals born with sex characteristics that vary from female or male "norms" face barriers to accessing appropriate healthcare, risking lifelong physical and psychological damage, Amnesty International said today. In a new report, "No Shame in Diversity", the organization uses case studies in Iceland to show how the lack of rights-based healthcare protocols mean that people born with variations of sex characteristics — who sometimes describe themselves as 'intersex' – face stigma and discrimination and are often subjected to harmful surgery. | A Bill that could help stop this — the Bill on Act on S…
(2019-02-19). Eleven-year-old Florida student arrested after refusing to recite Pledge of Allegiance. wsws.org The incident occurred after the sixth grader told his substitute teacher that the American flag is "racist" and that the national anthem is offensive to black people.
(2019-02-19). Appeals Court Rejects Big Oil's Lawsuit Against Youth Groups, LA. indybay.org "For decades the oil industry has put our health and safety in jeopardy," said Nalleli Cobo, an activist with the South Central Youth Leadership Coalition. "Now we the youth are fighting back, and we're winning. It's time for justice and it's time to put people's health over profit."
(2019-02-19). 16 states sue Trump over use of emergency powers to build border wall. rt.com 
Sixteen US states have filed a joint lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's use of emergency powers to requisition billions of dollars to build his border wall as an unconstitutional violation of separation of powers.
(2019-02-19). The Bolshevik Revolution and the Fight Against Black Oppression. indybay.org 303 Hudson St., lower level, Oakland | (Berkeley Korean United Methodist Church, at College and Manila Aves.)…
(2019-02-19). Egypt: Halt imminent execution of nine prisoners on death row. amnesty.org Egyptian authorities must immediately halt the execution of nine prisoners whom Amnesty International has learned could be put to death as soon as tomorrow morning. The men were convicted after an unfair trial over the 2015 killing of Egypt's former public prosecutor, and have been moved from their prison cells to the appeals prison in preparation for their executions. During the trial some of the defendants said they were forcibly disappeared and tortured to confessing to the crime.
(2019-02-19). The Cost of Civil Rights Violations in Vallejo. indybay.org On February 9, the police in my hometown shot Willie McCoy to death in a Taco Bell drive-through. I hadn't planned to write that when I began this post, which grew out of a dialogue with a neighbor frustrated by the crumbling schools, neglected parks, and casual brutality of this beautiful city.
(2019-02-18). Angela Davis Returns to Birmingham, Reflecting on Palestinian Rights & Fight for Freedom Everywhere. democracynow.org 
Civil rights icon and scholar Angela Davis returned to her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, over the weekend. She originally planned the visit to receive the Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, but the institute withdrew the award last month, soon after the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center sent a letter urging the board to reconsider honoring Davis due to her support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement targeting the Israeli government and Israeli institutions. Facing swift and widespread outcry, the institute then reversed its decision and reinst…
(2019-02-18). Jewish Activists Hold Solidarity Shabbat Defending Angela Davis in Birmingham & Across U.S. democracynow.org 
Jewish supporters of Angela Davis across the nation held solidarity Shabbat on Friday evening, the night before the civil rights icon had been expected to receive the Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. The institute rescinded the honor in January due to Davis' support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement targeting the Israeli government and Israeli institutions. The institute later reversed this decision after international outcry, but Davis has yet to accept the award. Democracy Now! was in Birmingham on Friday and attended a Shabbat in support of An…
(2019-02-18). Birmingham Civil Rights Group Reoffers Award to Angela Davis—But She Says Community Should Decide. democracynow.org 
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute sparked international outrage in January when it rescinded the Fred L. Shuttlesworth award for civil rights icon Angela Davis, soon after the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center sent a letter urging the board to reconsider honoring her due to her support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. Facing swift and widespread outcry, the institute then reversed its decision and reinstated the award, but Davis has yet to accept it. Democracy Now! spoke with the president and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Andrea Taylor, on Saturday, before an alternate e…
(2019-02-18). 25 Years in Jail for Protecting the Planet? thenation.com 25 Years in Jail for Protecting the Planet?
(2019-02-18). Racial Equity Groups Mobilize In Support of Voting Rights Act Hearings. naacp.org Atlanta Event 2nd in Series of National Hearings to Restore Voting Rights ATLANTA (February 18, 2019) — On Tuesday, February 19, all eyes will be on Georgia when the Subcommittee on Elections of the Committee on House Administration holds its "Field Hearing on Voting Rights and Election Administration in Georgia." Scheduled for 9: 30 AM EST …
(2019-02-18). Minnesotans stand up to racists to defend Representative Omar. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN – A group calling itself Patriots United put out a racist, anti-Muslim call for Minnesotans to come out on February 17 to protest U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar at her office near Target Field in Minneapolis. Jewish Voice for Peace-Twin Cities called for a counter-protest and over 80 people came out strong with signs like "Jews for Ilhan" and "Minnesotans against Islamophobia" against Patriots United's contingent of six people, holding three signs and two American flags. | Newly elected Representative Omar, of Minnesota's 5th Congressional District, which includes Minneapolis, started a national c…
(2019-02-18). Minneapolis erupts in protest over Trump's 'National Emergency' declaration. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN — Hundreds of people poured into the streets on Saturday, February 16, to demonstrate against the latest escalation of President Trump's anti-immigrant policies. | The day before, Trump had declared a so-called "National Emergency Concerning the Southern Border of the United States." Under the National Emergencies Act, the declaration could grant Trump new executive powers to allocate billions of dollars in funding toward further militarizing the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump claimed these measures will allow him to fulfill the racist "build the wall" narrative that he has used to mobilize his w…
(2019-02-18). How the Federal Government Undermines Prison Education. theintercept.com Aaron Kinzel grew up poor in Toledo, Ohio, and from an early age, he was pulled into a life of crime. He didn't know his father, and his mother's partners encouraged him to break into houses, sell drugs, and engage in various forms of violence. "I just grew up around a lot of bullshit," he says. "I was really groomed to be a professional criminal." | He was a teenager on probation in 1997 when he left the Midwest on an ill-fated road trip to Maine with his girlfriend. He was carrying drugs and a loaded gun when he was pulled over by a state trooper. With the officer standing outside his car window, Kinzel panicke…
(2019-02-18). Saudi Arabia: Clarify Status of 'Corruption' Detainees. hrw.org (Beirut) — Saudi Arabia announced an end to its high-profile anti-corruption campaign on January 31, 2019, but some of those rounded up remain in detention without a clear legal basis, Human Rights Watch said today. Saudi Arabia carried out the mass arrests, including of princes, current and former government officials, and prominent businessmen, on November 4, 2017, holding some for months at Riyadh's five-star Ritz Carlton Hotel and forcing them to turn over assets in exchange for their freedom outside of any legal process. | Those who re…
(2019-02-18). Roseanne Barr's Racism is Welcome in Israel. theantimedia.com (MEMO Op-ed) — The disgraced American actor-comedian Roseanne Barr was welcomed warmly in Israel last month. No surprise in that, you may think, but it now appears that this was precisely because of her racism. Once the toast of the liberal Hollywood establishment, Barr has over the past few years re-modelled herself as a rabid supporter of US …
(2019-02-18). 11yo arrested after refusing to stand for Pledge of Allegiance to 'racist' flag in Florida. rt.com 
An 11-year-old boy was arrested in Florida after his refusal to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance escalated into an argument with his teacher, who called in security because she "did not want to continue dealing with him."
(2019-02-18). Politicians jump ship as Jussie Smollett hate hoax sinks amid revelations. rt.com 
As the narrative of a 'racist, homophobic attack' on actor Jussie Smollett in Chicago continues to collapse, politicians and celebrities who fueled the outrage over the incident are quietly backing away and hoping no one notices.
(2019-02-16). NAACP Restructures to Advance Advocacy Strategy. naacp.org New York (February 16, 2019)—The nation's most prominent civil rights organization announced today during its annual national board meeting in New York, a strategic restructuring which better positions the organization to lead the critical policy advocacy and social justice work needed to ensure the rights of all people. The group also signed memoranda of understanding …
(2019-02-16). The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and NAACP to Sign Historic Memorandum of Understanding During Annual Board Meeting. naacp.org The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American Men, and the nation's oldest and largest grassroots civil rights organization, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) share common priorities and interests in ensuring the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons …
(2019-02-16). Response underway to Trump's National Emergency to fund wall. fightbacknews.org Washington, D.C. — Progressive organizations around the country are taking a stand against Trump's declaration of a State of Emergency, which would divert federal funds towards building a wall on the border with Mexico. | Many groups have signed on to a call initiated by the Legalization for All Network, that read in part, "To get the funding for his racist wall, Trump is taking it a step further by threatening to declare a state of emergency. With already thousands of U.S. troops mobilized to the border, a State of Emergency would heighten the tension of armed troops and border agents who already unleashed…
(2019-02-16). Locked Inside a Freezing Federal Jail, They United to Protest Their Conditions — Only to Face Reprisals. theintercept.com 
In some units where incarcerated people protested, the toilets were shut off — leaving them sleeping next to their own feces.
(2019-02-16). Chicago PD releases 'persons of interest' in shady Jussie Smollett attack case. rt.com 
Fueling suspicions that the 'racist, homophobic' attack on actor Jussie Smollett was a hoax, Chicago police have released the two Nigerians arrested as "persons of interest" without charges, claiming they have more work to do.
(2019-02-16). Mueller recommends 19+ year sentence for Manafort. rt.com 
Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office has requested that former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort get 19 years in prison after the would-be cooperator was found to be lying to the FBI, special counsel and a grand jury.
(2019-02-15). Black Civil Rights Advocate Takes Control of Neo-Nazi Hate Group the National Socialist Movement. splcenter.org The antisemitic and neo-Nazi group the National Socialist Movement (NSM) is now under the control of a black civil rights advocate from California who once dissolved a notorious Ku Klux Klan chapter in Mississippi.
(2019-02-15). There Is No 'National Emergency' at the Border, and Trump's Declaration Is Illegal. aclu.org President Donald Trump admits he's making his move because he didn't get his way with Congress, and in the process, he hurts American communities. | After more than a month of threats, a government shutdown, and bipartisan action by Congress, President Trump has finally declared a national emergency to spend billions of taxpayer dollars on his border wall obsession. In response, the ACLU will file a lawsuit early next week challenging this blatantly illegal executive action. | Let's get something straight upfront: There is no em…
(2019-02-15). Ibram X. Kendi on Surviving Cancer & His Anti-Racist Reading List for Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam. democracynow.org 
As we celebrate the remarkable life and legacy of Frederick Douglass on his 201st birthday, we are joined by Ibram X. Kendi, a professor of history and international relations and founding director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center at American University. Kendi spoke Thursday night at the Library of Congress at an event honoring Frederick Douglass. He is the National Book Award-winning author of "Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America" and a contributing editor at The Atlantic.
(2019-02-15). Asylum Seekers Are Being Imprisoned in an Abandoned Factory in Mexico Under Trump Admin Policy. democracynow.org 
As Trump plans to declare a national emergency, we look at what some have called the real humanitarian crisis at the border. Riot police in northern Mexico blocked hundreds of desperate Central American migrants Wednesday as they tried to escape an abandoned factory complex where they've been imprisoned while waiting for the U.S. to process their asylum claims. More than 1,700 migrants have been held in the maquiladora in the Mexican border town of Piedras Negras since February 5, after they arrived in a caravan of people seeking asylum in the U.S. The vast majority have remained prisoners at the site, after the…
(2019-02-15). Qatar: Promises yet to be fulfilled: Amnesty International submission for the UN Universal Periodic Review, 33rd session of the UPR Working Group, May 2019. amnesty.org While the partial abolition of the exit permit and the establishment of the fast-track labour courts are positive steps towards reforming the current labour system, domestic workers remain excluded from the new reforms and the law passed to protect their rights falls short of international standards. The government's promise to fully reform the kafala sponsorship system is yet to be delivered. Further, women continue to face discrimination and are still unable to pass on their nationality to their children despite a change in the law.
(2019-02-15). Egypt: End the cruel denial of family visits to detainees. amnesty.org Egyptian authorities are flagrantly violating international law by denying family visits to scores of detainees, Amnesty International said today. The organization has examined an official document which confirms there is an open-ended ban on family visits in a number of sections at two major prison complexes in Cairo and Alexandria. | Amnesty International has also recorded at least 61 cases of people who were prevented from receiving family visits for protracted periods — in some cases for up to two years – at Tora prison in Cairo and Borg al-Arab in Alexandria. The total number of detainees barred from r…
(2019-02-15). Egypt: Further Information: Egypt: Pre-Trial Detention For Human Rights Defender: Ezzat Ghoniem and Azzoz Mahgoub. amnesty.org On 9 February, a judge ordered the pre-trial detention of human rights defender and lawyer Ezzat Ghoniem for 45 days pending investigation. Ezzat Ghoniem and Azzoz Mahgoub were detained on March 1, 2018. The court ordered their release on probation on 4 September 2018, provided they report to a police station twice a week. They were never released, and on September 14 they were forcibly disappeared by the authorities. On 20 October 2018, an arrest warrant was issued against them for not respecting the probational terms — which they could not apply as being forcibly disappeared. Ezzat Ghoniem remained forcib…
(2019-02-14). New Hampshire Is Trying to Stop College Students From Registering to Vote. aclu.org Voting is my right. I shouldn't have to jump through hoops to exercise it. | Growing up, my parents taught me that voting is not only a right, but a privilege. They voted in every local, midterm, and presidential election, and every time they did so they were sure to show me their "I voted" sticker. | As I grew older, they discussed propositions or candidates with me, asking me what I thought and even providing me with sample ballots. My dad and I would talk about why our opinions were the same or different, and what information we were basing those votes on. When 2016 rolled around, I still wasn't old enough to…
(2019-02-14). U.S. Border Patrol Detained U.S. Citizens for Speaking Spanish in Montana. aclu.org 
Illegal arrests and seizures reflect an out-of-control agency emboldened by Trump's anti-immigrant agenda. | For Ana Suda and Martha "Mimi" Hernandez, May 16, 2018, began like any other in Havre, Montana: work, school, and a trip to the gym once their kids were in bed. They stopped by Town Pump — a local convenience store — to pick up groceries. While in line, the friends were chatting in Spanish, just two people having an ordinary conversation. But the Customs and Border Protection agent standing in line behind them did not see it that way. | He demanded to know where Ana and Mimi were born. After t…
(2019-02-14). Border Patrol Detained Me for Speaking Spanish in Montana. Then My Town Turned Against Me. aclu.org Customs and Border Protection violated our rights as U.S. citizens just for speaking Spanish in a grocery store. | I moved to Havre, Montana — near the U.S.-Canada border — in 2014 with my husband and our two young children. Home to around 10,000 people, I've always found Havre to be a friendly town, one where I felt good about raising my kids. But that all changed last May when my friend and I were illegally targeted and detained by a Customs and Border Protection agent, just for speaking Spanish to each other in a convenience store. | I didn't think it was possible for one incident to change our liv…
(2019-02-14). Trump Administration Is Illegally Forcing Asylum Seekers Out of the United States. aclu.org The administration is once again breaking the law in order to shut the door on immigrants. | Last September, Bianca* was forced to flee Honduras because her partner's father threatened to kill her for being a lesbian. Bianca could not go to the police in Honduras because they do not protect LGBTQ people from harm. So she left home to save her life. | After traveling through Guatemala and Mexico, Bianca reached Tijuana, where she got in line to enter the United States through the border station and ask for asylum.
(2019-02-14). NAACP Youth and College Division hosts State of the Union: For the Counter Culture. naacp.org 
On Tuesday, February 12, 2019, our Youth and College Division teamed up with Baller Alert to put on their own State of the Union: For the Counter Culture. Our Youth and College Director, Tiffany Dena Loftin served as moderator. The panelists were Kendrick Sampson, Philip Agnew, and Blair Imani, all young black people between the …
(2019-02-14). Headlines for February 14, 2019. democracynow.org Congress to Vote on Spending Bill with $1.4 Billion for Border Wall, Mexico: Migrant Asylum Seekers Imprisoned in Abandoned Factory, House Votes to End U.S. Support for Saudi-Led War in Yemen, EU Adds Saudi Arabia, U.S. Territories to "Dirty Money" Blacklist, Afghan Taliban to Meet U.S. Envoys in Pakistan for Peace Talks, U.S. Bombings in Afghanistan Approached Record Levels in 2018, Iran: Suicide Bomber Kills 27 Revolutionary Guard Members, Trump Administration Convenes Anti-Iran Summit in Warsaw, Giuliani Calls for Regime Change in Iran at Rally Hosted by Terrorist-Linked Group, NYT: Trump Admin Expanded Progra…
(2019-02-14). Is the refugee rights movement at a turning point? greenleft.org.au 
Children are off Nauru, Hakeem is back in Australia and parliament has passed the medical evacuation bill. For what feels like the first time in forever, the refugee rights movement is making gains. | True, these gains are small and limited — but they are gains, nonetheless. | The passing of the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2018, better known as the medivac bill, was met with celebrations on Manus Island and Nauru as well as within the refugee rights movement. | People have died because of the federal government's refusal to evacuate refugees from offshore detention centr…