A County Jail Battles COVID-19 and the Opioid Crisis–At the Same Time
Marcia Brown | progressive.org | 2020-05-01
The pandemic and an increase in immigration detainees create a double whammy for the rural Ohio jail.
progressive.org/dispatches/county-jail-battles-covid19-and-opioid-crisis-brown-200501/
Press Conference: Rancho Cordova PD Stop Beating Our Children
Black Lives Matter Sacramento | indybay.org | 2020-05-01
7-Eleven (Rancho Cordova, CA) | 10246 Mills Station Rd | Rancho Cordova, California 95670…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/04/29/18832686.php
Columbus car protest demands prisoner release
Martha Grevatt | workers.org | 2020-05-01
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 . . . | Continue reading Columbus car protest demands prisoner release at Workers.org…
workers.org/2020/04/48056/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=columbus-car-protest-demands-prisoner-release
State Water Contractors sue California over incidental take permit for endangered fish
Dan Bacher | indybay.org | 2020-05-01
"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).
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/04/29/18832699.php
McConnell Wants to Protect Businesses that Get Workers Sick
Elie Mystal | thenation.com | 2020-05-01
McConnell Wants to Protect Businesses that Get Workers Sick…
thenation.com/article/politics/immunity-lawsuit-mcconnell/
McConnell's Stimulus Scam: Vaccinate Businesses, Expose Workers
Elie Mystal | thenation.com | 2020-05-01
McConnell's Stimulus Scam: Vaccinate Businesses, Expose Workers…
thenation.com/article/politics/immunity-lawsuit-mcconnell/
Holding true to the abolitionist framework
| workers.org | 2020-05-01
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 . . . | Continue reading Holding true to the abolitionist framework at Workers.org…
workers.org/2020/04/48065/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=holding-true-to-the-abolitionist-framework
Iran's judiciary express concern over health of Iranian scientist imprisoned in US
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-05-01
TEHRAN, May 01 (MNA)
Colombia: Medical Team to Assist Villavicencio Prison Inmates
telesurenglish.net | 2020-05-01
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: | Colombia: Hunger Protests Continue Amid Pandemic | "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…
telesurenglish.net/news/colombia-medical-team-to-assist-villavicencio-prison-inmates-20200501-0008.html
El Salvador's President faces criticism for violating rights of imprisoned gang members
Peoples Dispatch | peoplesdispatch.org | 2020-05-01
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…
peoplesdispatch.org/2020/05/01/el-salvadors-president-faces-criticism-for-violating-rights-of-imprisoned-gang-members/
Colombia: Protests Over Lack of Food Aid Persist
telesurenglish.net | 2020-05-01
Colombian protests continue due to a lack of food aid and financial help. Bogota citizens demonstrated and blocked roads despite COVID-19 preventive measures. | RELATED: | Colombia: Medical Team to Assist Villavicencio Prison Inmates | As local news media reported, Barrio Quindío inhabitants gathered at the San Cristobal locality. Crowds surpassed 20 people. Protesters stated their will not to use violent demonstrations and requested Bogota's mayor presence. | Claudia Lopez, Bogo…
telesurenglish.net/news/colombia-protests-over-lack-of-food-aid-persist-20200501-0009.html
Prisoners Affairs Committee: Majority of Palestinian Prisoners Belong to the Labor Sector
IMEMC & Agencies | imemc.org | 2020-04-30
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 …
imemc.org/article/prisoners-affairs-committee-majority-of-palestinian-prisoners-belong-to-the-labor-sector/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=prisoners-affairs-committee-majority-of-palestinian-prisoners-belong-to-the-labor-sector
How to turn Colombia's prisons into coronavirus death camps and stay positive
Adriaan Alsema | colombiareports.com | 2020-04-30
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…
colombiareports.com/how-to-turn-colombias-prisons-into-coronavirus-death-camps-and-stay-positive/
How the ACLU is Responding to the Pandemic, Visualized
aclu.org | 2020-04-30
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
As Global Military Spending Hits Nearly $2 Trillion, These Weapons Are Useless Against Biggest Threats We Face
Tori Bateman | commondreams.org | 2020-04-30
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 …
commondreams.org/views/2020/04/30/global-military-spending-hits-nearly-2-trillion-these-weapons-are-useless-against?cd-origin=rss
Utah's Shiny Surveillance Technology to Address COVID-19 Fails Miserably
Jason Stevenson | aclu.org | 2020-04-30
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…
aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/utahs-shiny-surveillance-technology-to-address-covid-19-fails-miserably
In ICE Detention, Forced to Pay for Soap
Jack Herrera | thenation.com | 2020-04-30
In ICE Detention, Forced to Pay for Soap…
thenation.com/article/politics/coronavirus-ice-detention-soap/
In ICE Detention, Forced to Pay for Soap
Jack Herrera | thenation.com | 2020-04-30
In ICE Detention, Forced to Pay for Soap…
thenation.com/article/politics/coronavirus-ice-detention-soap/
A United World Must Break Out of Prison
Robert C. Koehler | commondreams.org | 2020-04-30
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 …
commondreams.org/views/2020/04/30/united-world-must-break-out-prison?cd-origin=rss
Bolivia's socialist presidential candidate Luis Arce speaks about elections, COVID-19 and fascist oppression
Oliver Vargas | peoplesdispatch.org | 2020-04-30
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…
peoplesdispatch.org/2020/04/30/bolivias-socialist-presidential-candidate-luis-arce-speaks-about-elections-covid-19-and-fascist-oppression/
Democrats fume as armed protesters descend on Michigan Capitol to protest lockdown
rt.com | 2020-04-30
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
Democrats fume as armed protesters descend on Michigan Capitol to protest lockdown
rt.com | 2020-04-30
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
California City Was Accused of Police Brutality Weeks Before Cop Beat Black Teen
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-04-30
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…
truthout.org/articles/california-city-was-accused-of-police-brutality-weeks-before-cop-beat-black-teen/
Court Allows Slaughterhouse Pollution Lawsuit to Move Forward
commondreams.org | 2020-04-30
______________________________…
commondreams.org/newswire/2020/04/30/court-allows-slaughterhouse-pollution-lawsuit-move-forward?cd-origin=rss
Russia Refutes Western Attempts To Blame China For COVID-19
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-30
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Wednesday criticized the statements of the governments of the United States and some European countries that seek to hold China responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. | RELATED: | Putin Extends National Paid Leave to May 11 | He also condemned the lawsuits filed by several countries that claim to demand billions of dollars from Beijing…
telesurenglish.net/news/Russia-Refutes-Western-Attempts-To-Blame-China-For-COVID-19-20200430-0005.html
Self-harm incidents in prisons jump to record high
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-04-30
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…
thecanary.co/uk/2020/04/30/self-harm-incidents-in-prisons-jump-to-record-high/
Self-harm incidents in prisons jump to record high
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-04-30
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…
thecanary.co/uk/2020/04/30/self-harm-incidents-in-prisons-jump-to-record-high/
Israeli Forces Arrested 40 Palestinians during First 6 days of Ramadan
IMEMC & Agencies | imemc.org | 2020-04-30
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 …
imemc.org/article/40-palestinians-have-been-arrested-by-israeli-during-the-first-6-days-of-ramadan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=40-palestinians-have-been-arrested-by-israeli-during-the-first-6-days-of-ramadan
Seniors, Prisoners and the Plight of the Detroit Majority
Abayomi Azikiwe | globalresearch.ca | 2020-04-30
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 …
globalresearch.ca/seniors-prisoners-plight-detroit-majority/5711328
Four Myths About Trans Athletes, Debunked
Chase Strangio | aclu.org | 2020-04-30
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 20 bills seeking to ban trans people from participating in athletics. These statewide efforts have been supported through a coordinated campaign led by anti-LGBTQ groups that have long worked to attack our communities. , , Before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down most state legislatures, Idaho became the first state to pass a sweeping ban on trans people's participation in a…
aclu.org/news/lgbt-rights/four-myths-about-trans-athletes-debunked
On Mumia's birthday, global event honors political prisoners
a guest author | workers.org | 2020-04-30
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. . . . | Continue reading On Mumia's birthday, global event honors political prisoners at Workers.org…
workers.org/2020/04/48035/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=virtual-teach-in-pays-tribute-to-mumia-abu-jamal-on-66th-birthday
Selected Articles: Post-COVID Lockdown
Global Research News | globalresearch.ca | 2020-04-30
Do you value the reporting and in-depth analysis provided by Global Research on a daily basis? | Click to | * * * | | Seniors, Prisoners and the Plight of the …
globalresearch.ca/selected-articles-post-covid-lockdown/5711395
Federal Bill Would Release Vulnerable People from Prisons to Help Stop Spread of COVID-19
Kanya Bennett | aclu.org | 2020-04-29
A month ago, Congress gave the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) increased authority to reduce the federal prison population. On March 29th, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ( CARES Act), providing DOJ and BOP with the ability to expand home confinement eligibility. Then, Attorney General William Barr "applaud[ed] the substantial steps ta…
aclu.org/news/prisoners-rights/federal-bill-would-release-vulnerable-people-from-prisons-to-help-stop-spread-of-covid-19
Ecuador's Amazon Indigenous Sue Gov't, Oil Firms Over Spill
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-29
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 Amazon Frontlines reported Wednesday. | RELATED: | Radical Missionaries in the Amazon Put Isolated Tribes at Risk | The legal action was filed in the provincial Court of El Coca, in the northeastern region of Sucumb…
telesurenglish.net/news/Ecuadors-Amazon-Peoples-Sue-Government-Oil-Firms-Over-Spill–20200429-0016.html
Headlines for April 28, 2020
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-28
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…
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/28/headlines
Headlines for April 28, 2020
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-28
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…
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/28/headlines
Trump attacks trans health access during a pandemic
Aviva Levine | liberationnews.org | 2020-04-28
Under an expected rewrite of part of the ACA, discrimination against trans people in health care would be legally permitted.
liberationnews.org/trump-attacks-trans-health-access-during-a-pandemic/
Long-Acting Injectable HIV Therapy Noninferior to Daily Pills
Slomski A. | jamanetwork.com | 2020-04-28
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.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2764996
White Collar Criminals, Celebrities, Wealthy Use Privilege For Early Release Amidst Pandemic
Staff | therealnews.com | 2020-04-28
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.
therealnews.com/stories/white-collar-celebrities-wealthy-privilege-release-prisons-pandemic-coronavirus-bail-parole
FRSO online event: COVID-19 pandemic striking Black and brown communities
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2020-04-27
New York City, NY
They Were Willing to Make the Ultimate Sacrifice for the U.S., but Trump Won't Let Them Become Americans
Scarlet Kim | aclu.org | 2020-04-24
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…
aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/they-were-willing-to-make-the-ultimate-sacrifice-for-the-u-s-but-trump-wont-let-them-become-americans
We're Going to Court on April 27 to Strike Down This Poll Tax for Good
Daniel Tilley | aclu.org | 2020-04-24
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'…
aclu.org/news/voting-rights/were-going-to-court-on-april-27-to-strike-down-this-poll-tax-for-good
Despite Pandemic, Police Continue To Retaliate
Staff | therealnews.com | 2020-04-24
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.
therealnews.com/stories/police-accountability-report-police-retaliate-despite-pandemic
Headlines for April 23, 2020
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-23
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…
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/23/headlines
After a Lifetime Apart, COVID-19 Prison Release Reunites Mother and Daughter
Leila Rafei | aclu.org | 2020-04-23
"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
First person to die in Alabama's prisons with COVID-19 spent more than four decades behind bars
splcenter.org | 2020-04-22
splcenter.org/news/2020/04/22/first-person-die-alabamas-prisons-covid-19-spent-more-four-decades-behind-bars