2020-05-30: News Headlines

Staff (2020-05-30). Corrections Officers And Formerly Incarcerated People Protest Unsafe COVID-19 Conditions. therealnews.com Corrections officers joined prison abolitionists in a caravan rally protesting the lack of promised testing, PPE, and release of prisoners at four Maryland prisons.

Fight Back (2020-05-30). Over 1000 march in Los Angeles demanding justice for George Floyd. fightbacknews.org Los Angeles, CA – More than 1000 people marched here, May 27, to demand justice for George Floyd, an African American man who was murdered by Minneapolis police. Protesters were also demanding justice for two others who were murdered by LAPD within the last 48 hours. The action was organized by Black Lives Matter-LA and assembled at the Hall of Justice in downtown. Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey has refused to prosecute police killings, and her office is located at the Hall of Justice. | The protest then marched onto the 101 Freeway, blocking traffic temporarily. The protesters chanted, "Black lives,…

commondreams (2020-05-30). Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Condemns Mark Zuckerberg's Decision to Continue Publishing President Trump's Tweets Glorifying Violence. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Manuel Perez Rocha (2020-05-30). Corporate Lawsuits Could Devastate Poor Countries Grappling with Covid-19. zcomm.org Wealthy corporations may use trade courts to keep public health measures from cutting into their profits…

Tom Coburg (2020-05-30). Secret memos confirm government role in the jailing of Ricky Tomlinson. thecanary.co On hearing the name Ricky Tomlinson, many people will think of Brookside or the Royle Family or the Ken Loach films Raining Stones and Riff Raff. Before that Tomlinson

ACLU (2020-05-29). Anthony Romero on Leading in a Time of Crisis. aclu.org Anthony Romero started his job as executive director of the ACLU just seven days before September 11, 2001, and he's been with us ever since. The subsequent "war on terror" presented new and widespread threats to civil rights and civil liberties. Now, he faces a new challenge: leading the ACLU during the COVID-19 pandemic. He joined the podcast this week to discuss how the ACLU is navigating the current moment., , "In moments of crisis, in moments of fear, civil liberties are often imperiled," Romero told our host, Emerson Sykes. The organization has had to "adjust to our understanding of what liberty and free…

Filiberto Nolasco Gomez (2020-05-29). While Minneapolis burned immigrant prisoners in Sherburne County jail started hunger strike. peoplesworld.org Editor's note: This article is reprinted from Workday Minnesota. In a press statement, Interfaith Coalition on Immigration (ICOM) announced that immigrant detainees had begun a hunger strike at the Sherburne County jail in Elk River, Minnesota. ICOM explained that the hunger strikers have asked for their release from Sherburne County Jail. In the statement, ICOM explained they …

United Steelworkers (2020-05-29). United Steelworkers on solidarity and justice for Black Lives. zcomm.org Many of us are saddened, but too many of our African-American members are worried that they can be stopped on the way home from work or a union meeting and suffer the same fate as George Floyd…

Lewis Conway (2020-05-29). Recidivism Will Only Decrease if Successful Reentry is Embraced as an Antidote for Mass Incarceration. aclu.org While there are many policies drafted and bills legislated, really the only components that comprise successful reentry to the community are skills, support, and shelter. Thinking about what I needed when I came home from prison looks much different now than it did 20 odd years ago. Back then, I thought serving my time in prison was my punishment; I didn't know I was facing a life sentence after leaving prison. And for many people reentering society after leaving incarceration, that's what reentry is — a life sentence., , When the corrections officer stopped by my bunk to tell me I was being paroled, my…

Arianna Demas (2020-05-29). Maine's ISP Privacy Law Does Not Violate the First Amendment, Much as ISPs Would Like for It To. aclu.org Without many of us even realizing it, our use of the Internet reveals deeply private information about us, ranging from the contents of our communications to details about our finances, health, and exact location. This information — especially when aggregated — provides an intimate window into our personal lives and can reveal a great deal of personal, private information about us, like our health care needs and personal or political beliefs., , For each of us, there's at least one entity that can see perfectly through that window: our "broadband information access service" provider, more commonly…

commondreams (2020-05-29). ACLU Statement On Trump Tweet Directing the National Guard to Murder Protesters in Minneapolis. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Kate Ruane (2020-05-29). President Trump has No Idea How Online Speech Works. aclu.org Yesterday, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at bullying social media companies and online platforms into changing how they moderate content online. The order came the day after President Trump tweeted that Republicans feel that social media platforms silence conservative voices. And, notably, just days after Twitter's decision to place a fact-checking

news.un (2020-05-29). More 'can and must be done' to eradicate caste-based discrimination in Nepal. news.un.org Shocked over the killing last weekend of five men in Nepal, who had planned to escort home one of their girlfriends from a higher caste, the UN human rights chief on Friday stressed that ending caste-based discrimination is "fundamental" to the overall sustainable development vision of leaving no one behind.

J.P. Linstroth (2020-05-29). Arundhati Roy on Indian Migrant-Worker Oppression and India's Fateful COVID Crisis. counterpunch.org In India there is never one story but thousands, even millions, and so the detrimental impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on this country of more than 1.3 billion, especially among the poor, has been profound, causing immense suffering. Nor did it help matters much when Prime Minister Narendra Modi shut India into immediate lockdown without warning

Dale Ho (2020-05-28). We're Working to Safeguard Our Democracy and Our Health. aclu.org No one should have to choose between their health and their vote, but during the Wisconsin primary, an estimated

Jon Queally, staff writer (2020-05-30). What ACLU Says Was Trump Call to "Literally Murder Protesters," Facebook Says Doesn't Violate Standards. commondreams.org "Facebook has once again failed to act against an explicit violation of its own rules and has allowed the violent and racist post to remain up." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/zuckerberg_0_1.jpg

Andrea Germanos, staff writer (2020-05-29). Honduran Family Sues US Govt for Separation Lawyers Say Was Deliberately Meant to 'Torment and Traumatize'. commondreams.org "These federal agents made a choice, a cruel and heinous choice, to deliberately inflict pain and trauma upon a family seeking refuge." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/honduran-family-lawsuit-detention-cruel.jpg

Julia Conley, staff writer (2020-05-29). In Show of Solidarity, Public Transit Workers Refuse to Transport Police Units or Those Arrested at #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd Protests. commondreams.org Unionized public bus drivers in Minneapolis are refusing to aid police in transporting arrested protesters to jail, in a show of solidarity that one supporter on social media called "a game-changer" as civil rights advocates demand justice for George Floyd. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1227482214_2.jpg

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2020-05-29). Mnuchin and DeVos Sued for Unlawful Seizure of Student Loan Borrowers' Tax Refunds During Pandemic. commondreams.org Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, and the federal departments they run were hit with a class-action lawsuit Friday for illegal seizures of thousands of student borrowers' tax refunds during the coronavirus pandemic, which has left over 40 million Americans jobless and familes across the country struggling to stay in their homes and keep food on the table. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/picmonkey_collage.jpg

Staff (2020-05-29). As Pandemic Epicenter Shifts to Latin America, Gov'ts Use COVID-19 as Pretext for Police Repression. democracynow.org As the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic shifts to Latin America, so too has the use of COVID-19 as a pretext for police repression. "We're seeing that COVID-19, like other pandemics before it, magnifies structural discrimination. And sadly, it's often the most marginalized that are the first targets," says Louise Tillotson, co-author of a new Amnesty International report on the abuse. We also go to San Salvador to speak with journalist Jorge Cuéllar.

Staff (2020-05-28). Headlines for May 28, 2020. democracynow.org U.S. Coronavirus Death Toll Tops 100,000, Minneapolis Erupts in Flames as Protesters Rage Against Police Killing of George Floyd, China Tightens Grip on Hong Kong with New National Security Law, House of Representatives Holds First-Ever Remote Vote Amid Coronavirus Pandemic, Protesters Surround Sing Sing Prison Demanding Release of Prisoners at Risk of COVID-19, Researchers: 6 Feet of Social Distancing Might Not Be Enough to Stop Coronavirus Spread, Doctors Without Borders Warns of Spike in Coronavirus Cases Among Florida Farmworkers, Brazilian Police Raid Fake News Network Linked to Son of Far-Right President, A…

AutumnSun (2020-05-30). Black Lives Matter March Santa Cruz 5-30-2020. indybay.org On a rainy day in Santa Cruz as I traveled threw Santa Cruz, Ca. this morning. Glad to see we are not sitting still!

Staff (2020-05-29). California Sheriff Refuses to Release People From Jail as COVID Outbreak Rages. truthout.org California Sheriff Chad Bianco recently made a splash in the conservative media after he told Riverside County officials that his department would not enforce local public health orders meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19. A viral video of his statement earned Bianco an Bianco did not mention that the five…

RT (2020-05-30). Justice center housing Portland sheriff's office SET ON FIRE by rioters (VIDEO). rt.com Rioters in Portland, Oregon have started fires inside a building that holds the county's sheriff's office. Police have arrived at the scene and have begun to disperse the protesters. | A vigil for George Floyd, who died in police custody in Minneapolis, descended into violence on Friday night in Portland, Oregon. Rioters targeted the Multnomah County Justice Center, which houses the sheriff's office and detention center. In videos posted to social media, protesters are seen breaking windows and setting fires inside the building. One clip shows a group of rioters smashing computers and overturning desks and fur…

RT (2020-05-30). US has DEADLIEST police culture in modern world, they only know incarceration & brutality — George Floyd family co-counsel. rt.com George Floyd died at the hands of uniformed officers, proving yet again that the US has the "deadliest police culture," the like of which is nowhere to be found in the modern world, his family lawyer told RT's Ruptly video agency.

sputniknews (2020-05-30). Afghan Government Releases 710 Taliban Militants As Fighting in Country Resumes. sputniknews.com KABUL (Sputnik) – The Afghan government has released another 710 Taliban* prisoners as part of President Ashraf Ghani's commitment to free 2,000 militants in response to the Eid ceasefire, the Afghan National Security Council said in a statement.

_____ (2020-05-29). Minnesota National Guard: Stand Down For Black Lives. popularresistance.org We write you as fellow veterans and service members with full knowledge of what's at stake as many of you are being asked to mobilize against civilians in your own country. As your neighbors fill the streets demanding the justice this country promised them, your command is undoubtedly telling you that you're being activated in service to your community. And yet, it is your community members who fill the streets, while your Commander in Chief tweets about using you to murder people over something as insignificant as property damage. A moral choice lies before you. As veterans who have faced similar tests of consci…

Fight Back (2020-05-29). Chicanos in Boyle Heights to participate in the National Day of Action May 30. fightbacknews.org Los Angeles, CA – On Saturday, May 30 at 3 p.m. Centro Community Service Organization (CSO) will be participating in the National Day of Protest to demand the mass release of all prisoners due to COVID-19. The action is called by the National Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression and CSO is an affiliated organization with the Alliance. We are protesting the murders of Ahmaud Aubery in Georgia, Breonna Taylor in Louisville, and George Floyd in Minneapolis because they are outraging, and we must demand justice. This lynch-style, racist terrorism must stop and perpetrators must be punished. | The Boyle Heig…

_____ (2020-05-30). Update From General Strike 2020 — Upcoming Actions. popularresistance.org With the unconscionable murder of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis this past week, we're reminded of the importance that the fight against racism plays in our struggle. We've seen admirable solidarity in those who have taken to the streets to protest police brutality against African Americans in this country. If you're able, please consider making a donation towards legal aid for those Minnesota protesters working to advance civil rights and police reform: www.gofundme.com/f/g2xas-gs2020-legal-aid-for-minnesota-protesters?utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_lico

_____ (2020-05-29). Bus Drivers Refuse To Help Police, Prison Labor Replaces Meatpackers And More. popularresistance.org With protests erupting all over Minneapolis over the death of George Floyd, cops are attempting to arrest protesters in mass. | However, some bus drivers in Minneapolis are refusing to use their buses to transport protestors to jail. | "As a transit worker and union member, I refuse to transport my class and radical youth," Minneapolis bus driver Adam Burch told Payday. "An injury to one is an injury to all. The police murdered George Floyd and the protest against is completely justified and should continue until their demands are met." | While it would be illegal for Burch's union to call for a wildcat strike, h…

Nathan Freed Wessler (2020-05-28). We're Taking Clearview AI to Court to End its Privacy-Destroying Face Surveillance Activities. aclu.org For several years, a little-known start-up based in New York has been amassing a database of billions of our faceprints — unique biometric identifiers akin to a fingerprint or DNA profile — drawn from personal photos on our social media accounts and elsewhere online. The company has captured these faceprints in secret, without our knowledge, much less our consent, using everything from casual selfies to photos of birthday parties, college graduations, weddings, and so much more., , Unbeknownst to the public, this company has offered up this massive faceprint database to private companies, police,…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-05-28). Hirak protests continue across Algeria in solidarity with political prisoners. peoplesdispatch.org Algeria witnessed a fresh round of anti-government protests on May 25, Monday in solidarity with political prisoners associated with the Hirak movement, who are being held in jails on frivolous and motivated charges. Rallies and demonstrations were conducted in cities across Algeria, coinciding with the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations. A ban on public demonstrations and other restrictions are in force in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | One of the main sites of Monday's protest was Kherrata city in Bejaia province, east of Algerian capital Algiers. The city holds particular significance as it is where the Hir…

Frances Madeson (2020-05-28). Federal Prison 'Should Not Be a Death Sentence'. progressive.org Advocates press for the release of Native inmates due to COVID-19.

IMEMC & Agencies (2020-05-28). Israeli Troops Abduct Eight Palestinians Across the West Bank. imemc.org Israeli troops reportedly abducted, late on Wednesday night and early on Thursday at dawn, eight Palestinians, across the occupied West Bank. The Ramallah-based Palestinian Prisoners' Society said in a statement that Israeli troops invaded both Ya'bad and Qabatia villages of Jenin district and abducted Nour Bashar Abu Bakr, a former …

Tyler Durden (2020-02-04). Biden Threatens Lawsuit to Halt Release of Real Iowa Caucus Results. theantimedia.com American democracy—ain't it grand?>