2020-05-01: News Headlines

Martha Grevatt (2020-05-01). Columbus car protest demands prisoner release. workers.org Columbus, Ohio Over 100 cars, driven by people from all over Ohio, circled the state's Department of Rehabilitation and Correction in Columbus, the capital, on April 24. From there, the car caravan went to the Statehouse to protest the dangerous conditions in state prisons. Marion and Pickaway correctional institutions have . . . |

Marcia Brown (2020-05-01). A County Jail Battles COVID-19 and the Opioid Crisis—At the Same Time. progressive.org The pandemic and an increase in immigration detainees create a double whammy for the rural Ohio jail.

Black Lives Matter Sacramento (2020-05-01). Press Conference: Rancho Cordova PD Stop Beating Our Children. indybay.org 7-Eleven (Rancho Cordova, CA) | 10246 Mills Station Rd | Rancho Cordova, California 95670…

(2020-05-01). Holding true to the abolitionist framework. workers.org Here is a slightly edited transcript of Amber-Rose Howard's talk during the April 9 Workers World Party webinar. Howard is the executive director of CURB, Californians United for a Responsible Budget. Experiencing a felony conviction as a young adult propelled Howard into a lifetime commitment of organizing against the prison-industrial . . . |

Elie Mystal (2020-05-01). McConnell Wants to Protect Businesses that Get Workers Sick. thenation.com McConnell Wants to Protect Businesses that Get Workers Sick…

Elie Mystal (2020-05-01). McConnell's Stimulus Scam: Vaccinate Businesses, Expose Workers. thenation.com McConnell's Stimulus Scam: Vaccinate Businesses, Expose Workers…

Dan Bacher (2020-05-01). State Water Contractors sue California over incidental take permit for endangered fish. indybay.org "We note that with the filing of this latest lawsuit, the State Water Contractors have joined Westlands Water district and the Metropolitan Water District in pronouncing the voluntary agreement process dead," said John McManus, President of the Golden State Salmon Association (GSSA).

teleSUR (2020-05-01). Colombia: Medical Team to Assist Villavicencio Prison Inmates. telesurenglish.net Colombia's National Penitentiary and Prison Institute (INPEC) Thursday decided to send a medical team to the Villavicencio prison, a public facility located in the Meta department that has 1,738 inmates and at least 421 COVID-19 cases. | RELATED: | "They will have to ensure that the social isolation protocol is respected," the INPEC Director Norberto Mujica said. | He also explained that the Penitentiary Services Unit will be in charge of hi…

en.mehrnews (2020-05-01). Iran's judiciary express concern over health of Iranian scientist imprisoned in US. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 01 (MNA) — Iranian Judiciary's High Council for Human Rights Ali Bagheri-Kani expressed concern over the health condition of an Iranian scientist imprisoned in the United States.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-05-01). El Salvador's President faces criticism for violating rights of imprisoned gang members. peoplesdispatch.org National and international human rights organizations have condemned the president's actions as the crackdown on inmates comes amid fears over the spread of the novel coronavirus…

IMEMC & Agencies (2020-04-30). Prisoners Affairs Committee: Majority of Palestinian Prisoners Belong to the Labor Sector. imemc.org Head of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Prisoners Affairs Committee, Qadri Abu Baker, said on Thursday, on the eve of International Workers Day, that majority of Palestinian prisoners, inside Israeli jails and detention centers, belong to the labor sector and that their lives have been spent in jail. In his remarks, Abu …

ACLU (2020-04-30). How the ACLU is Responding to the Pandemic, Visualized. aclu.org The COVID-19 pandemic has closed down many businesses, but the ACLU's work of defending and expanding civil liberties and civil rights continues, essential as ever. At the ACLU, our most immediate focus has been on issues arising from the government's response — or lack thereof — to the pandemic., , Since the start of the outbreak, we've filed over 90 legal actions and have seen thousands of people released from prisons, jails, and immigration detention. | We and ACLU offices across the country are working in nearly every state to save lives, advocate for vulnerable communities, safeguard the r…

Adriaan Alsema (2020-04-30). How to turn Colombia's prisons into coronavirus death camps and stay positive. colombiareports.com It took months of inaction, but Colombia's government finally turned Villavicencio's prison into the perfect coronavirus petri dish from where its prison chief infected at least three more prisons. The…

Jason Stevenson (2020-04-30). Utah's Shiny Surveillance Technology to Address COVID-19 Fails Miserably. aclu.org How many times have you failed to get a new digital device working properly the first time? While toddlers can (amazingly) master iPhones in minutes, some tech gadgets require many troubleshooting attempts to activate. And even then, they might fizzle., , Last month, the state of Utah learned that simple tech lesson in a very public way., , As part of a series of measures to respond to the coronavirus outbreak, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert issued an executive order requiring every adult crossing the Utah border to submit an electronic State of Utah Travel Self-Declaration Form with details about their contact info…

Tori Bateman (2020-04-30). As Global Military Spending Hits Nearly $2 Trillion, These Weapons Are Useless Against Biggest Threats We Face. commondreams.org The U.S. military cannot fight a pandemic. It is not a war, it's a public health crisis. And this isn't the only threat that has a global scope. Our federal budget priorities need to reflect that reality by investing in the agencies and programs that can actually help keep us healthy and safe. (Photo: ACLU) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/no_aumf_1.jpeg

Jack Herrera (2020-04-30). In ICE Detention, Forced to Pay for Soap. thenation.com In ICE Detention, Forced to Pay for Soap…

Robert C. Koehler (2020-04-30). A United World Must Break Out of Prison. commondreams.org The prison system doesn't work. (Photo: Derek Goulet/cc/flickr) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/state-state-incarceration_0.jpg

Oliver Vargas (2020-04-30). Bolivia's socialist presidential candidate Luis Arce speaks about elections, COVID-19 and fascist oppression. peoplesdispatch.org The presidential candidate of the Movement for Socialism in Bolivia, Luis Arce Catacora, talks about COVID-19 being used as a pretext to postpone elections, the economic policies of the coup government, and the approach his party plans to take…

RT (2020-04-30). Democrats fume as armed protesters descend on Michigan Capitol to protest lockdown. rt.com Crowds of protesters, some carrying weapons, descended on the state capitol in Lansing, Michigan, as legislators considered extending Covid-19 lockdown measures. Democrats blamed President Donald Trump. | Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a stay-at-home order late last month, as the coronavirus epidemic took hold in her state. When the governor — a Democrat and fierce critic of Trump — extended the order by 15 days last week, a group of residents filed a lawsuit claiming Whitmer had infringed their constitutional rights. | After the Michigan Court of Claims rejected the suit, the state legislature sat…

a guest author (2020-04-30). On Mumia's birthday, global event honors political prisoners. workers.org By Mirinda Crissman and Judy Greenspan From behind prison walls nearly 39 years, Mumia Abu Jamal continues to educate, energize and unite prison abolitionists, former and current political prisoners, and the global activist community. On April 24, his 66th birthday, Abu-Jamal's story and legacy brought together a virtual gathering "U.S. . . . |

Staff (2020-04-30). California City Was Accused of Police Brutality Weeks Before Cop Beat Black Teen. truthout.org A federal lawsuit alleging that the California city of Rancho Cordova "fostered a culture of violence" among local police was filed just weeks before videos showing a white Rancho Cordova police officer pummeling a Black teenager sparked national outrage on Monday. Local law enforcement officials are investigating the latest incident, which reportedly began when the officer stopped a 14-year-old boy for buying a cigar. The encounter escalated, and now-infamous videos circulating widely on…

teleSUR (2020-04-30). Russia Refutes Western Attempts To Blame China For COVID-19. telesurenglish.net Russia's RELATED: | He also condemned the lawsuits filed by several countries that claim to demand billions of dollars from Beijing…

commondreams (2020-04-30). Court Allows Slaughterhouse Pollution Lawsuit to Move Forward. commondreams.org ______________________________…

The Canary (2020-04-30). Self-harm incidents in prisons jump to record high. thecanary.co The number of incidents of self-harm in jails in England and Wales jumped 14% last year to the highest recorded figure. | In the year to December, there were 63,328 reported incidents of self-harm in prisons, according to Ministry of Justice (MoJ) data. | This is up 14% on the previous 12 months (55,615) and the highest figure on record since data was documented in 2009 (24,184). The lowest figure recorded so far was 23,158 in 2012. | Quarterly figures from the three months to December show the number of incidents started to decrease slightly towards the end of the year. | The number of prisoners self-harming als…

Abayomi Azikiwe (2020-04-30). Seniors, Prisoners and the Plight of the Detroit Majority. globalresearch.ca Statistical indicators from the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan reveal that the rate of infections and deaths resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic are on the decline. | During the early weeks of April the state of Michigan was …

IMEMC & Agencies (2020-04-30). Israeli Forces Arrested 40 Palestinians during First 6 days of Ramadan. imemc.org The Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Prisoners' Studies, said on Wednesday, that Israeli troops abducted 40 Palestinian residents, since the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, last Friday. Spokesperson for the center, Riyad Alashqar, was quoted as saying that the Israeli occupation forces have exposed lives of Palestinian prisoners to …

Kanya Bennett (2020-04-29). Federal Bill Would Release Vulnerable People from Prisons to Help Stop Spread of COVID-19. aclu.org A month ago, Congress gave the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)

Staff (2020-04-29). CARES Act Funding For Native Tribes Reveals Continued US Colonization. therealnews.com The recent CARES Act is another example of the continued effort to dismiss Indigenous peoples' sovereignty, and doesn't provide adequate funding to fight COVID-19.

teleSUR (2020-04-29). Ecuador's Amazon Indigenous Sue Gov't, Oil Firms Over Spill. telesurenglish.net Indigenous people in Ecuador's Amazon launched a lawsuit against Ecuador's government as well as private and State oil companies over their responsibility in the country's biggest oil spill in more than ten years, NGO RELATED: | The legal action was filed in the provincial Court of El Coca, in the northeastern region of Sucumb…

Chase Strangio (2020-04-30). Four Myths About Trans Athletes, Debunked. aclu.org For years state lawmakers have pushed legislation attempting to shut trans people out of public spaces. In 2020, lawmakers zeroed in on sports and introduced

Staff (2020-04-28). Headlines for April 28, 2020. democracynow.org Known U.S. Deaths Top 56,000 as New Study Shows True Number Likely Much Higher, Trump Ignored Early Intelligence Reports as Coronavirus Spread, Trump Denies Responsibility for Spike in Disinfectant Poisonings, Texas Reopens Businesses, California Warns Against Violating Restrictions | , Trump's Plan to Give Commencement Address at West Point Could Bring Back 1,000 Cadets to Campus, NY Cancels Primary After Removing Bernie Sanders from the Ballot , U.N. Calls for Release of Immigrant Prisoners as San Diego Facility Refuses to Allow Face Mask Delivery, More Cases Reported at Prisons as New Study Shows 96% of Inmate…

Aviva Levine (2020-04-28). Trump attacks trans health access during a pandemic. liberationnews.org Under an expected rewrite of part of the ACA, discrimination against trans people in health care would be legally permitted.

Staff (2020-04-28). White Collar Criminals, Celebrities, Wealthy Use Privilege For Early Release Amidst Pandemic. therealnews.com Michael Cohen and Michael Avenatti were released, and some Los Angeles prisons offer pay-to-stay rooms for celebrities. But a huge number of people are still imprisoned and at risk of COVID-19 just because they can't afford cash bail.

Slomski A. (2020-04-28). Long-Acting Injectable HIV Therapy Noninferior to Daily Pills. jamanetwork.com A pair of trials in the New England Journal of Medicine found that long-acting monthly injectable therapy for HIV-1 infection was noninferior to standard daily oral regimens for maintaining viral suppression.

Fight Back (2020-04-27). FRSO online event: COVID-19 pandemic striking Black and brown communities. fightbacknews.org New York City, NY — On Sunday, April 26, Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) Central Committee members Frank Chapman and Masao Suzuki gave talks in the livestreamed webinar "Pandemic + Racism = Genocide: Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on Oppressed Nationalities & How We can Fight Back!". | As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the country, certain communities are affected more than others. The webinar's purpose was to explore how COVID-19 has affected Black and brown communities, why the virus is especially dangerous in prisons and detention centers, and how imperialism is at the center of it all…

Scarlet Kim (2020-04-24). They Were Willing to Make the Ultimate Sacrifice for the U.S., but Trump Won't Let Them Become Americans. aclu.org Ange Samma, a 22-year-old green card holder from Burkina Faso, came to the United States seven years ago, when he was still a teenager. After studying electrical engineering at community college, he decided to enlist in the U.S. Army in 2018. He wanted to give back to his adopted country and also hoped joining the military would help him achieve his goal of becoming an electrical engineer. , , Ange currently serves on active duty as a soldier in South Korea. But despite serving this country on a U.S. military base in a foreign country, he still hasn't been able to obtain citizenship through his military servic…

Daniel Tilley (2020-04-24). We're Going to Court on April 27 to Strike Down This Poll Tax for Good. aclu.org On April 27, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), ACLU of Florida, and our litigation partners will go to trial in U.S. District Court against the state of Florida to win the ability to vote for hundreds of thousands of eligible state voters now being denied that basic right. | In November 2018, more than 64 percent of Florida voters approved Amendment 4, returning the right to vote to Floridians convicted of felonies who completed their sentence and supervision. The only persons excluded are those convicted of homicide or sexual crimes. | Immediately, the Florida Legislature set out to undermine voters'

Staff (2020-04-24). Despite Pandemic, Police Continue To Retaliate. therealnews.com We speak with cop watcher and auditor John Filax and find out first hand what police retaliation looks like as we interview Deja, Ramsey Orta's fiancee who has spent months in prison after filming Eric Garner's death from an illegal chokehold.

Leila Rafei (2020-04-23). After a Lifetime Apart, COVID-19 Prison Release Reunites Mother and Daughter. aclu.org "You're on the list.", , It took a few seconds for Chalana McFarland to grasp what was happening. Her name was one of just a few on the list of people who would be released from prison early due to COVID-19. Behind her stood a line of dozens of other women waiting to see if they made it. Only some of them had. But as Chalana received the news, they started cheering, and caused such an uproar that the correctional staff had to reprimand them. That's when it finally clicked for Chalana — after 15 years in prison, she was finally going home. , , Chalana immediately contacted her daughter., , "I was watching…

Staff (2020-04-23). Headlines for April 23, 2020. democracynow.org ACLU Warns Spread of Coronavirus in Jails Could Add 100,000 Deaths to U.S. Toll, Government Scientist Claims Reprisal for Opposing Trump's Unproven Coronavirus Treatment, As Coronavirus Reached the U.S., Trump Admin Tapped Ex-Labradoodle Breeder to Lead Task Force, President Trump "Disagrees Strongly" with Governor's Plans to Reopen Georgia, Scientists Skeptical of Reports of High Rates of Coronavirus Antibodies in California Residents, Funeral Directors Association Warns U.S. COVID-19 Deaths Are Underreported, Doctors Report Life-Threatening Blood Clotting in COVID-19 Patients, More Human Trials of Experimental…

splcenter (2020-04-22). First person to die in Alabama's prisons with COVID-19 spent more than four decades behind bars. splcenter.org

Liberation Staff (2020-04-20). Massachusetts #FreeHer car protest demands the release of incarcerated women during COVID-19. liberationnews.org COVID-19 is spreading in Massachusetts prisons and jails. As reported by WBUR, five incarcerated people have already died of the virus in Massachusetts, and over 150 cases of the virus have been confirmed among prisoners and prison staff.

Steven Powers (2020-04-18). "All gas no mask!": In life and death situation, inmates rebel amid pandemic. liberationnews.org Spontaneous prison actions of resistance have become increasingly regular in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Ryan Cristián (2020-04-18). David Meiswinkle Interview — Ongoing Suppression Of 9/11 Truth & Proof Of Controlled Demolition. thelastamericanvagabond.com Joining me today is the President and Executive Director of the Lawyers' Committee for 9/11 Inquiry, David R. Meiswinkle, Esq. David is a retired New Brunswick police officer and a United States Army veteran, as well as a criminal defense attorney. He is here today to discuss the continuing cover up of 9/11 truth, and …

splcenter (2020-04-17). SPLC lawsuit challenging Mississippi's failure to provide a uniform public school system moves forward. splcenter.org When Precious Hughes looked down the long, dark halls of Raines Elementary School in Jackson, Mississippi, she saw lights flickering, water spots staining the ceilings and paint chipping off the walls.

splcenter (2020-04-15). CROWN Act movement seeks to protect Black people from racial discrimination based on hairstyles. splcenter.org Jordan Winder did not apply to the high school of his choice, because the dreadlocks he's been growing nearly half his life are not allowed there.

Willems RJ, van Dijk K, Ket JF, et al. (2020-04-01). Evaluation of Association Between Gastric Acid Suppression and Risk of Intestinal Colonization With MDROs. jamanetwork.com This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the association of use of gastric acid suppressants with the risk of colonization with multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDROs).

Gavin Yamey, Marco Schà§ferhoff, Richard Hatchett, Muhammad Pate, Feng Zhao, Kaci Kennedy McDade (2020-03-31). [Comment] Ensuring global access to COVID-19 vaccines. thelancet.com The current response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic involves aggressive implementation of suppression strategies, such as case identification, quarantine and isolation, contact tracing, and social distancing. However, models developed by the Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team suggest that "transmission will quickly rebound if interventions are relaxed".1 WHO warns of multiple simultaneous outbreaks of COVID-19 worldwide.2 The development of COVID-19 vaccines that can be used globally is therefore a priority for ending the pandemic.