(2019-03-26). New Jersey Is Addicted to ICE. thenation.com New Jersey Is Addicted to ICE…
(2019-03-26). What I Saw at the Dilley, Texas, Immigrant Detention Center. thenation.com What I Saw at the Dilley, Texas, Immigrant Detention Center…
(2019-03-26). Top 5 Reasons Why the House Should Pass the Paycheck Fairness Act. aclu.org The law would give working women the legal tools they need to challenge discrimination and close the gender pay gap. | More than 55 years after the Equal Pay Act was passed, women working fulltime and year-round, on average, are paid only 80 cents for every dollar paid to their male counterparts. The disparity for women of color is even more severe. This wage gap has remained stagnant for years and continues to squeeze women's pocketbooks, erode their earning potential, and deprive them of the means to improve their own lives and support their families. | It's long past time to update the Equal Pay Act to give wo…
(2019-03-26). Ardern's Response to Christchurch has Put Other Leaders to Shame, But Not for Its Compassion Alone. counterpunch.org Cometh the hour, cometh the woman. Jacinda Ardern won her spurs last week with her response to the Christchurch atrocity. But the world's praise for her eloquence and compassion missed the point. Ardern was different. She fought from the start like a real politician, scorning the killer, attacking racism and slapping back at Turkish president Erdogan's revolting election propaganda More
(2019-03-26). Who are Ana Belén Montes and Nina Droz Franco? workers.org Supporters of Puerto Rican political prisoners rallied in Harlem, N.Y., March 23. (Photo credit: Ash Jegroo) The struggle to free Puerto Rican political prisoners Ana Belén Montes and Nina Alejandra Droz Franco continues. On March 23 the ProLibertad Freedom Campaign held a Freedom March in Harlem as part of their . . . | Continue reading Who are Ana Belén Montes and Nina Droz Franco? at Workers.org
(2019-03-26). Prison Reformer Faces Challenges in Council Race. therealnews.com Chris Ervin knows firsthand the challenges of reforming the prison system. He spent time in prison and now has his own re-entry program where he trains former prisoners in the trucking industry and getting their commercial driver's licenses. He faces unique challenges in his run for city council in unifying diverse neighborhoods such as Roland…
(2019-03-26). UN expert condemns new sentence for jailed Venezuelan judge as 'another instance of reprisal'. un.org Maria Lourdes Afiuni, a jailed Venezuelan judge arrested ten years ago, has been slapped with a further five-year sentence, prompting a UN human rights expert to express his "grave concern", describing the further punishment as an act of "reprisal against her".
(2019-03-26). Trump Justice Department Pushes Full Repeal of Affordable Care Act. truthout.org After failing to repeal the Affordable Care Act through the legislative process, the Trump administration signaled Monday that it is moving aggressively to scrap the law entirely in the courts — putting the healthcare of tens of millions of Americans at risk. | In a legal filing as part of a Texas lawsuit led by Republican governors, the Trump Justice De…
(2019-03-26). Ku Klux Klan sues Tory Party for copyright infringement. thecanary.co Senior figures in the Tory Party have decided to name themselves after the head racists of the Ku Klux Klan: Isn't 'Grand Wizard' a … | Read more Ku Klux Klan sues Tory Party for copyright infringement | By John Shafthauer
(2019-03-26). Prosecutors Abruptly Drop Criminal Charges Against Jussie Smollett. truthdig.com CHICAGO—Prosecutors on Tuesday abruptly dropped all charges against Jussie Smollett, the "Empire" actor who was accused of lying to police about being the target of a racist, anti-gay attack in downtown Chicago, his attorneys said. | Smollett's attorneys said his record had "been wiped clean" of the 16 felony counts related to making a false report that he was assaulted by two men. The actor insisted that he had "been truthful and consistent on every single level since day one." | "I would not be my mother's son if I was capable of one drop of what I was being accused of," he told reporters after a court he…
(2019-03-26). Protest demands justice for the wrongfully convicted. fightbacknews.org Chicago, IL – A crowd of 20 rallied outside the office of 30th Ward Alderman Ariel Reboyras on March 20 to condemn his record of covering for police crimes and preventing justice for those victimized by police violence. | Protesters included residents of the 30th Ward, members of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Chicago Boricua Resistance (CBR), and Innocent Demand Justice. Addressing the crowd, Jazmine Salas, co-chair of the Chicago Alliance, said "Reboyras has done nothing for the survivors of Guevara's crimes and instead made sure to protect dirty cops. He has turned his back on Bl…
(2019-03-26). In just two tweets, Laura Kuenssberg blew the lid on dangerous Tory racism. thecanary.co On 25 March, parliament voted to take back control of the ongoing Brexit chaos. Meanwhile, Laura Kuenssberg — the BBC's supposedly impartial political editor … | Read more In just two tweets, Laura Kuenssberg blew the lid on dangerous Tory racism | By Fréa Lockley
(2019-03-26). Speaker Pelosi Shame On You, Say Skip A.I.P.A.C. Protesters. indybay.org The protest of the annual lovefest between the Democrat-Republican Parties and the Zionist lobbying organization, American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), is bigger and better than ever with a huge projection on the wall of the Wash. D.C. conference site stating "Speaker Pelosi, Shame On You" when she spoke today, 3/24/19, along with the rest of the Democrat & Republican Party leadership, all proud supporters of the racist, anti-women, fascist, theocratic US military base known as Israel, better known as Historic Palestine. See twitter.com/Mindmenow…
(2019-03-26). Criminal charges dropped in case against Jussie Smollett. rt.com Chicago prosecutors have dropped criminal charges against 'Empire' star and alleged hate crime hoaxer Jussie Smollett. The actor had been indicted on 16 felony counts for faking a 'racist and homophobic' attack on himself. |
(2019-03-26). Use of the Word "Dindunuffin" by Police Officer Triggers Internal Affairs Investigation. indybay.org The Santa Cruz Police Department has opened an internal affairs investigation into the conduct of Officer Chris Galli, who in January referred to a man who he had previously arrested as a dindunuffin on social media. Galli, posting as "Chris Meriekuh", made the comment about the individual, who is African American and homeless, on Joe Netro's Santa Cruz, CA: Keepin' It Real hate blog. A screen capture of the comment was posted in an Indybay article, helping to raise awareness concerning the racist nature of the term, which originated among law enforcement officers to mock activists participating in the Black Live…
(2019-03-25). TUNE IN: 50th NAACP Image Awards Airs Live this Saturday, March 30 on TV One. naacp.org On Saturday, March 30, 2019, the best and brightest in Black Hollywood will gather at the Dolby Theatre to celebrate the 50th NAACP Image Awards. Shaping up to be a night to remember, NAACP, the nation's foremost civil rights organization, will award activists and entertainers alike for their contributions to the culture over the past …
(2019-03-25). Pennsylvania Is Jailing Mentally Ill People Who Belong in Treatment. aclu.org The people in jail have disabilities so severe they cannot be prosecuted under the Constitution. | For the third time in less than four years, the ACLU of Pennsylvania and co-counsel from Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer asked a federal judge last week to order Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services to reduce the time that people with severe psychiatric disabilities spend waiting in jail for treatment beds. These people's mental disabilities are so significant that under the Constitution they can be neither prosecuted nor punished, which means they cannot be kept in a prison or jail. | How disabled are our clie…
(2019-03-25). New Report: Black Residents Face More Barriers to Better Health than Whites. naacp.org Key findings from the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, released on March 19, 2019, reveal that "Black residents face greater barriers to opportunity and health than white residents." The finding comes from the 10th annual County Health Rankings — an assessment of how well counties across America fare in terms of various health factors — published …
(2019-03-25). Brazilian Ex-President Temer Released by Appeals Court. telesurenglish.net A Brazilian appeals court judge released Monday former President Michel Temer from jail following his high-profile arrest on corruption charges last Thursday. | RELATED: | Ex-Brazilian President Michel Temer Arrested Over Corruption | Judge Ivan Athie from the Federal Court of the Second Region in Rio de Janeiro issued the release order after accepting the defendant's request for a habeas corpus to counteract the preventive prison de…
(2019-03-25). 'Loyal Slave' Monuments Tell a Racist Lie About American History. thenation.com 'Loyal Slave' Monuments Tell a Racist Lie About American History…
(2019-03-25). 'Uphold human dignity', dismantle 'specious notion of racial superiority' urges UN chief. un.org Raise awareness of the dangers of racism and "stand up against old and new forms of slavery" was the resounding message of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday during a special event marking the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
(2019-03-25). Who watches the watchdog? Hate monitor group SPLC embroiled in harassment scandal (VIDEO). rt.com The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), an organization which crusades against racism, has been hit by a string of resignations amid workplace harassment claims. Analysts say the scandal reflects the watchdog's duplicitous nature.
(2019-03-25). Labor's failure to offer alternatives lost them the NSW election. greenleft.org.au NSW Labor lost the March 23 state election with its small-target strategy, its refusal to challenge the privatisation agenda and its sly accommodation to racism. | Despite a state-wide swing of 3.4% against the Liberal-National Coalition, the Gladys Berejeklian government has won a slim majority for another four-year term to "finish their agenda" of more privatisations, cuts to service and handouts to corporate mates. | Labor also suffered a swing against it (1.1%) because it did not offer a clear political alternative to the Coalition. | Small right-wing parties, in particular the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers P…
(2019-03-25). 'Protecting money at expense of children': Jailed whistleblower's wife details his confinement to RT. rt.com Hacktivist Martin Gottesfeld was sentenced to 10 years in prison for exposing Boston Children's Hospital for a medical kidnapping. His wife joined RT to talk about how the US is protecting abusers while punishing whistleblowers.
(2019-03-24). NAACP Calls for Full Release of Mueller Report, Barr Summary Not Enough. naacp.org Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP, made the following statement: Attorney General William Barr's principal conclusions submitted to Congress today raise more questions than answers. The American people deserve to see the full report and findings from the investigation, not just a summary from Trump's hand-picked Attorney General. Robert Mueller stated, "While this report does not conclude …
(2019-03-24). 'Pick my cotton, n****r': University of Georgia frat suspended over racist VIDEO. rt.com A University of Georgia (UGA) fraternity has been suspended after a video emerged showing a student mock-whipping another saying, "Pick my cotton n****r," as others watched and laughed.
(2019-03-23). NAACP Calls for Full Mueller Report to be Released. naacp.org NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, released the following statement regarding a recent development in Mueller investigation: "The full Mueller report and all underlying findings must be released. The people of this nation deserve transparency. The integrity of our democracy is at stake. Our country cannot afford anything less than the unvarnished and unedited truth. …
(2019-03-22). The Silencing of Manuel Duran Ortega. progressive.org A journalist fights detention and deportation by ICE.
(2019-03-22). In Boston, People Are Charged With Crimes That Waste Taxpayers' Money and Prosecutors' Time. aclu.org When people in Boston are charged with certain low-level crimes and misdemeanors, prosecutors dismiss the charges nearly 60 percent of the time. | America's growing awareness of mass incarceration and the over-incarceration of people of color has sparked something nationwide: From Birmingham to Boston, voters are electing progressive, reform-minded prosecutors., , Suffolk County District Attorney candidate Rachael Rollins last year announced that, if elected, her office would decline to prosecute 15 misdemeanors and…
(2019-03-22). Why School Psychologists Are Worried About the Mental Health of America's Students. aclu.org A new ACLU report shows that millions of kids are in schools that have no mental health staff. One of the report's authors discusses the implications. | Earlier this month, thousands of school psychologists met in Atlanta at the annual convention of the National Association of School Psychologists. One of the hottest topics among attendees was exhaustion — a consequence of having to serve more students who are experiencing more trauma and other mental health problems without more help in carrying the load. | It's not just school psychologists who are concerned about being short-staffed. I know of far too ma…
(2019-03-22). ‚ÄãEddie Conway: 5-Year Anniversary of His Release From Prison ‚Äã- RAI (11/12). therealnews.com We continue our Reality Asserts Itself series with TRNN Executive Producer Eddie Conway, who spent 44 years as a political prisoner and is now in the leadership of TRNN…
(2019-03-21). The FBI Won't Hand Over Its Surveillance Records on 'Black Identity Extremists,' so We're Suing. aclu.org The ACLU and the Center for Media Justice are suing the FBI for records about the surveillance of Black activists—a tactic with a long, sordid history | At a time when violence by white supremacists is on the rise, the FBI appears to be targeting Black people in a secret intelligence program concerning so-called "Black Identity Extremists"— an inflammatory term for a group that doesn't even exist. The bureau's practice echoes earlier, shameful government surveillance programs that sought to discredit civil rights and Black power activists who were critical to advancing racial equality — and it e…
(2019-03-21). Catholic Bishops Stopped My Surgery Because I'm Transgender. aclu.org Gender-affirming care is lifesaving and supported by medical professionals. Yet Oliver Knight and many other transgender people are denied this care. | After years of working to affirm my identity in a world where transgender people are questioned constantly about their decisions, I felt hopeful as I arrived for the surgery I had waited so long for. I was 27, and I would finally be closer to calling my body home. | Since I was a kid, I've felt like my body didn't match my soul. I felt uncomfortable in clothes. I felt disgusting when I showered. Everything felt wrong, but it took me a while to figure out why. | On…
(2019-03-21). New Mexico prisons: less than 1% of inmates with hepatitis C treated. liberationnews.org Universal healthcare demands should extend to the millions of working class people trapped in the prison-camps-for-the-unemployed known as the U.S. prison system.
(2019-03-21). Headlines for March 21, 2019. democracynow.org New Zealand Outlaws Military-Style Weapons After Mosque Attacks, "Major Humanitarian Emergency" After Cyclone Pounds Southeast Africa, Three U.S. States Declare Emergencies as Missouri River Swells, Judge Halts Wyoming Oil and Gas Drilling, Citing Climate Change, Radovan Karadzic Sentenced to Life in Prison over Bosnian Genocide, Trump Administration Official Under Fire for Islamophobic Comments, Trump Travel Ban Prohibits Dozens from Attending U.N. Women's Forum, Trump Claims Mueller Report Should Be Made Public, Trump Assails Husband of White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway, Pentagon Watchdog to Probe Acting D…
(2019-03-21). LA: Boyle Heights honors International Women's Day. fightbacknews.org Los Angeles, CA – The neighborhood of Boyle Heights celebrated International Women's Day, March 8, by honoring women on the Eastside who shake things up. Organized by Centro CSO, the event took place in the historic Casa del Mexicano building. The celebration doubled as a fundraiser for legal fees in a major lawsuit against big-time corporation KIPP Promesa Charter school. A large group from all over East Los Angeles and Boyle Heights attended. | Headlining was Fe Montes, of Mujeres de Maíz, who performed multiple readings, poems, and chants. Met with applause, Montes spoke about the need to honor the "Chingonas…
(2019-03-21). Ilhan Omar responds to attacks: Rashida and I are here to stay. greenleft.org.au Two young Muslim women were elected to the United States House of Representatives in the 2018 election. Ilhan Omar is Black, and a refugee from war-devastated Somalia. Rahida Tlaib is of Palestinian descent, and has family living under Israeli oppression. | Both are outspoken supporters of the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement, which was initiated by the Palestinian grassroots to protest Israel's oppression. | As supporters of BDS, they have been under attack from the Israeli lobby in the US, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which falsely claims BDS is anti-Semitic. Following I…
(2019-03-20). The Torture Machine: Flint Taylor on Chicago Police Brutality from Fred Hampton to Today. democracynow.org We look at the Chicago Police Department's long history of violence against African Americans, from the murder of Black Panther Fred Hampton to the reign of torture overseen by commander Jon Burge. The brutality of the Chicago police force is laid bare in a new book by leading civil rights lawyer Flint Taylor. It's called "The Torture Machine: Racism and Police Violence in Chicago." The book exposes decades of corruption and cover-ups in the Chicago Police Department. We speak with Flint Taylor, who has represented survivors of police brutality in Chicago for nearly half a century.
(2019-03-20). Border Patrol and ICE Routinely Violate Immigrants' Religious Rights. aclu.org Seizing rosaries, forbidding turbans, and serving pork sandwiches to Muslims are just some of the reasons we're demanding an investigation. | One pork sandwich every eight hours for six straight days. That's the only food that Border Patrol provided to Adnan Asif Parveen, a Muslim immigrant who was detained in South Texas in January because his work permit had expired and was pending renewal. Mr. Parveen reportedly informed officials that his religion forbids him from eating pork, but the…
(2019-03-20). Lawmakers in Colorado Should Abolish the Death Penalty. aclu.org The death penalty is a broken tool riddled with bias that must be abandoned. A new bill in Colorado can do just that. | In July 2012, Coloradans were devastated by the now-infamous murder of 12 moviegoers in the town of Aurora. Despite the trauma and grief that crime caused, a local jury three years later refused the prosecutor's request to impose the death sentence against the convicted perpetrator. At the time, The Denver Post observed, "The death penalty in Colorado has effectively expired. And…
(2019-03-20). The Government Is Hiding Its Plans for Anti-Pipeline Protests. aclu.org Federal and state responses to public records requests raise concerns of a crackdown on First Amendment-protected speech. | President Trump likes to build things — apartment buildings, casinos, golf courses, walls —…
(2019-03-20). The Roots of Police Violence in Chicago: How Cops Have Targeted Communities of Color for Decades. democracynow.org We look at the long history of police brutality against Latinos in Chicago. Latinos, especially immigrants, have faced police violence and killings for decades, and have a long history of fighting back against brutality through community organizing and activism. But their stories have received little news coverage. We speak with Lilia Fernández, a professor of history and Latino studies at Rutgers University and the author of "Brown in the Windy City: Mexicans and Puerto Ricans in Postwar Chicago." We also speak with Flint Taylor, an attorney with People's Law Office and author of "The Torture Machine: Racism and…
(2019-03-20). Colton Fears Sentenced to Five Years in Prison. splcenter.org A Houston man has been sentenced to five years in prison in Florida for his role in an armed confrontation with protesters following a speaking engagement by Richard Spencer on Oct. 19, 2017.
(2019-03-19). Facebook Settles Civil Rights Cases by Making Sweeping Changes to Its Online Ad Platform. aclu.org The ACLU expects other social media and advertising platforms to follow suit in recognizing that civil rights laws apply online. | The ACLU, along with our client Communications Workers of America and other civil rights groups, announced a historic settlement agreement with Facebook that will result in major changes to Facebook's advertising platform. Advertisers will no longer be able to exclude users from learning about opportunities for housing, employment, or credit based on gender, age, or othe…
(2019-03-19). ACLU: The U.S. Is Acting Like an Authoritarian Regime by Barring ICC Officials Probing War Crimes. democracynow.org The Trump administration has barred International Criminal Court investigators from entering the United States. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Friday that the U.S. will start denying visas to members of the ICC who may be investigating alleged war crimes by the U.S. military in Afghanistan. In September, national security adviser John Bolton threatened U.S. sanctions against ICC judges if they continued to investigate alleged war crimes committed by U.S. troops in Afghanistan. A 2016 ICC report accused the U.S. military of torturing at least 61 prisoners in Afghanistan during the ongoing war. The report…
(2019-03-19). 'White Helmet' Attacker in Deandre Harris Beating Identified as Alek Rhyne Hyer of Gainesville, Florida. splcenter.org The identity of a man wearing a white helmet seen in video of the beating of Deandre Harris after the racist "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, has been a mystery for nearly 18 months.
(2019-03-19). Minnesotans protest Senator Klobuchar's pro-war record. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN – On March 15, 30 protesters gathered in front of Senator Amy Klobuchar's Minneapolis office to condemn her support for the Trump administration policy of regime change in Venezuela and support of U.S. aid to Israel. Since Klobuchar has kicked off her presidential campaign, the Twin Cities anti-war movement has responded by holding multiple protests, including a picket at her presidential announcement at Boom Island, to draw attention to the senator's long record of voting for military aid and U.S. intervention. | Responding to the savage and racist mosque attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand, Mis…
(2019-03-17). We must override this veto! naacp.org On 2-26-2019, the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of H. J. Res 46, a resolution to reject and nullify President Donald Trump's declaration of an emergency so he could shift as much as $6.7 billion of previously appropriated monies away from their intended recipients and used instead to build a wall along the …
(2019-03-15). Dear Young Ardelia Walker… naacp.org As we continue to celebrate Women's History Month, we would like to share another "Letter To Our Younger Self". The NAACP will be sharing letters written by our regional Women In the NAACP (WIN) Coordinators to their younger self. Our second highlight comes from Ardelia Walker of Region 6. Dear Ardelia: I have several messages for …
(2019-03-15). After New Zealand Shooting, Far-right, Racists Claim Victimhood, Hail Killer as Hero. splcenter.org Andrew Anglin found humor in the livestreamed video of a man in New Zealand storming into the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, then shooting and killing 49 people.