2020-07-08: News Headlines

Judy Greenspan (2020-07-09). Release San Quentin prisoners immediately! workers.org Oakland, Calif. July 5 — After a large prisoner transfer to San Quentin State Prison dramatically increased the COVID infection rate there, prisoners and advocates have stepped up their campaign to win the release of thousands of elderly, ill and vulnerable people inside. COVID-19 infections are spiking at astronomical levels . . . |

ABEAR (2020-07-08). Black Lives Matter rewrites history. workers.org July 7 — A people's tidal wave against white supremacy has swept through the U.S. since the police murder of George Floyd on May 25. The assertion of power by the people against racist oppression has defied curfews, teargas, deadly weapons, mass arrests and unjust laws. A statue of Christopher . . . |

Peoples Dispatch (2020-07-08). Black Lives Matter protests continue in cities across the US. peoplesdispatch.org Over a month after the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers, protests continue to rage on in dozens of cities across the United States with demands for structural change…

RT (2020-07-08). WATCH: SUV drives through crowd of BLM protesters in New York, but driver released without charge. rt.com A motorist panicked after being surrounded by Black Lives Matter protesters in New York's Times Square, speeding through the crowd and trapping a bicycle under the vehicle's chassis. No charges have been filed as yet, however. | "We have bikes that go in the front and block off the intersection and redirect traffic so we don't have to worry about things happening like what just happened," one protest organizer explained after protesters pursued the driver for two blocks. | The group of cyclists were attempting to stop traffic to allow the BLM protesters through when the driver suddenly panicked after their Dod…

RT (2020-07-08). California couple charged with HATE CRIME for painting over city-approved BLM mural. rt.com The couple who attempted to paint over the City of Martinez's "Black Lives Matter" mural on the 4th of July have been charged with a hate crime and two other misdemeanors by a controversial "progressive" prosecutor. | Nichole Anderson and David Nelson have been hit with three misdemeanor charges over their efforts to paint over a Black Lives Matter mural in front of the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse just hours after the original painting was completed with the full blessing of the city of Martinez, a statement from Contra Costa District Attorney Diane Becton's office revealed on Tuesday. The pair could face up t…

Michael Harris (2020-07-08). California Reparations Bill AB 3121 – Senate Process in flow… indybay.org The signs and symbols surrounding the California State Capitol are coming down and few know the reason they were put in place. Reparative Justice hidden, cloaked in secrecy and does not mention Slavery thoroughout the State of California… limited narrow focus may do additional harm… yet not sure it matters because the Black Lives "in the building" is all that matters.

Black Lives Matter Scotts Valley (2020-07-08). Thursday 7/9: Scotts Valley: Black Lives Matter Peaceful Protest. indybay.org 5: 30pm: Meet at Skypark, 361 Kings Village Rd, Scotts Valley | March to MacDorsa Park, 1 Civic Center Drive, Scotts Valley…

Santa Cruz News (2020-07-08). Santa Cruz Grand Jury Suggests Transitioning Juvenile Hall into a Homeless Services Center. indybay.org In it's report, "Homelessness: Big Problem, Little Progress: It's Time To Think Outside The Box," the 2019-2020 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury suggests transitioning Juvenile Hall in Felton into a, "treatment and multi-faceted supportive services center for homeless individuals". The Civil Grand Jury report cited low incarceration numbers at Juvenile Hall in Felton compared to the number of staff members required to operate the facility, and noted that decreasing youth incarceration rates across the State of California has led to other counties closing their juvenile detention centers. "The Grand Jury believe…

RT (2020-07-08). US must tear down 'whole system of oppression,' says Democrat Ilhan Omar. Dems have 'given up' on America, Republicans reply. rt.com Ilhan Omar has called on the US "to tear down systems of oppression." But the Minnesota Democratic representative's remarks have outraged Republicans, who say she wants to ruin the whole American system. | Oppression is seen pretty much across the board in the American system, Omar claimed in a speech in Minnesota on Tuesday. | "We are fighting to tear down systems of oppression that exist in housing, in education, in healthcare, in employment, in the air we breathe," she said. | "We cannot stop at the criminal justice system. We must begin the work of dismantling the whole system of oppression wherever we fin…

Ramzy Baroud (2020-07-08). On Israel's Bizarre Definitions: The West Bank is Already Annexed. mintpressnews.com The truth is that Israel rarely behaves as an 'Occupying Power', but as a sovereign in a country where racial discrimination and apartheid are not only tolerated or acceptable but are, in fact, 'legal' as well.

Alan Macleod (2020-07-08). Democratic Candidate James Averhart Personally Oversaw Solitary Confinement of Chelsea Manning. mintpressnews.com Alabama congressional candidate James Averhart led a campaign to punish soldiers who deserted the Vietnam war and personally oversaw the brutal imprisonment of whistleblower Chelsea Manning.

Fight Back (2020-07-08). Oneida Nation holds memorial ride, rally, for indigenous man killed by Green Bay police. fightbacknews.org Green Bay, WI – On Sunday, July 5, the Oneida Nation held a memorial ride and rally for Jonathon Tubby, an Oneida man killed in police custody nearly two years ago. Jonathon's family, which has filed a civil lawsuit against members of the Green Bay Police Department, had requested a one-year mourning period before beginning public advocacy. That one-year period ended in November 2019 and the family has been pursuing justice ever since. | Approximately 100 vehicles were in a procession through the Oneida reservation with signs reading, "No justice – no peace" and "Justice for Jonathon." They made stops in residen…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-07-08). Macri is further implicated in the case investigating an illegal spying network. peoplesdispatch.org Former Argentine president Mauricio Macri is eagerly watching the progress of a lawsuit in which 22 people were arrested on June 30, including former officials of his government, which links intelligence agents to political power…

Eric Zuesse (2020-07-08). Were the Skripals Secretly Executed by Britain's Government? dissidentvoice.org Where are Sergei and Yulia Skripal? Are they still alive? Their having been poisoned in England on 4 March 2018 didn't kill them. Sergei Skripal is (or was) the Russian and British double agent (Russian spy who defected to UK), who had become imprisoned for six years in Russia, and then became spy-swapped to, and …

Saed Bannoura (2020-07-08). Elderly Palestinian Detainee Dies In Captivity. imemc.org The Palestinian Commission of Detainees' Affairs has confirmed, on Wednesday morning, the death of an elderly Palestinian political prisoner at Israeli medical center following years of medical neglect. The Commission stated that Sa'adi Khalil al-Gharabily, 75, from Gaza, has died on Wednesday morning, at an Israeli medical center, after suffering …

Julian Rose (2020-07-08). The Sad Faces of Our Children in Lockdown Covid Captivity. globalresearch.ca Of all the depressing sights witnessed during the insane process of Covid home imprisonment, stupid social distancing and mask madness, the regimentation of children into predesignated playground /classroom 'chalked-off zones' is the one I find the most blood chilling. | There …

William D. Hartung (2020-07-08). Police, Prisons, and the Pentagon. zcomm.org Defunding America's Wars at Home and Abroad…

_____ (2020-07-08). Why Did The Bureau Of Prisons Impose A National Lockdown? popularresistance.org Following the murder of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis on May 25, a nationwide uprising of unprecedented proportions has swept the U.S. in thousands of cities and towns, large and small, across all 50 states. This surge of mass resistance around issues of racial injustice, occurring against the backdrop of a major public health crisis and increasingly deteriorating economic conditions, has laid bare the failure of our capitalist system to protect working class communities of color. In addition to facing a much higher possibility of being endangered by an encounter with law enforcement, thes…

RT (2020-07-07). Hate is in the eye of the beholder: Facebook extends olive branch to boycott leaders, but middle ground is elusive in polarized US. rt.com Seeking to appease hundreds of companies that have halted advertising, Facebook is pledging to do a better job policing 'hateful' content — a tall order in a nation where warring political parties can't even agree on basic facts. | Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg met on Tuesday with organizers of the boycott campaign, led by the NAACP and the Anti-Defamation League. They also announced plans to meet with other activist groups and consult with their own civil rights auditor. | The #StopHateForProfit boycott movement has seen more than 900 businesses suspending thei…

Staff (2020-07-07). Headlines for July 7, 2020. democracynow.org Judge Rules Dakota Access Pipeline Be Shut Down Pending Review, Trump Admin Moves to Deport and Bar International Students If Colleges Go Online in Fall, Coronavirus Surges Across Country as Dr. Fauci Warns U.S. Still "Knee-Deep" in First Wave, Jair Bolsonaro Gets Tested for COVID-19; WHO Warns AIDS Deaths in Africa Could Rise Amid Pandemic, Congressmembers, Trump Associates Among Beneficiaries of Coronavirus Stimulus Funds, Anti-Asian American Hate Crimes Have Been Soaring Since the Start of the Pandemic, Indiana Civil Rights Activist Says He Was Victim of Attempted Lynching, Video Shows Police Officers Fatally…

ACLU (2020-07-07). Voting by Mail is Essential for Voters with Disabilities, but it's Not Enough. aclu.org , COVID-19 highlighted the need for universal access to no-excuse vote by mail. For many voters with disabilities, vote by mail has always been the safest and most accessible way to cast a ballot, because it allows them to avoid the challenges of getting to the polls, waiting in line, and facing physical barriers at the polling place. While in-person polling places are required to be fully accessible, we still see

Felipe Galindo (2020-07-07). Black Lives Matter, Every Day. thenation.com Black Lives Matter, Every Day…

Staff (2020-07-07). #WhiteCoatsForBlackLives Wants Racial Justice In The Medical Field. therealnews.com The healthcare industry has a long and well-documented history of racist treatment of Black and Indigenous people. Now, doctors join the movement for Black lives.

_____ (2020-07-07). Black Women In Italy Weren't Being Heard, That's Changed. popularresistance.org Ariam Tekle had just begun co-hosting a podcast about black identities in Italy when, in late May, George Floyd was killed in police custody and a series of Black Lives Matter protests erupted across the United States. | That outcry for social change resonated across the Atlantic, hitting many cities in Europe with unprecedented force, including her hometown of Milan. And for local black communities, the protests became an opportunity to speak out about issues of endemic racism beyond the U.S. experience. | "We stand in solidarity with what is happening in the U.S., but we also want this to be a starting point to…

RT (2020-07-07). CNN's Don Lemon clashes with actor Terry Crews: Is BLM about police brutality, or problems in the black community? rt.com Actor Terry Crews faced an angry backlash after voicing concerns about the radicalization of the BLM movement. His clash with CNN's Don Lemon on why black-on-black crime is not part of the agenda split society even further. | Last Saturday, Crews, who is also a human rights activist, tweeted that he saw good people as allies regardless of the color of their skin, adding that he was "prepared to die on this hill." He previously expressed concern that the Black Lives Matter movement might slide into black supremacy. | Are all white people bad? | No. | Are all black people good? | No. | Knowing this reality- I st…

Leon Kunstenaar (2020-07-07). San Geronimo Valley Joins BLM. indybay.org Quiet valley wakes up to Black Lives Matter…

_____ (2020-07-07). As U.S. Police Forces Are Threatened With Extinction, American Gun Owners Under Attack for Protecting Themselves. strategic-culture.org With alarming frequency, law-abiding citizens who attempt to defend themselves and their private property with the use of guns are being portrayed as villains, while trespassers, looters and rioters get bailed out of prison. Have the liberals found a backdoor method for trashing the Second Amendment? | Last month, Mark and Patricia McCloskey were about to sit down for a dinner at their home in St. Louis, Missouri when members of Black Lives Matter smashed through the front gate and began marching through the private property. The McCloskeys, with memories of the violent protests that rocked their city just weeks…

Staff (2020-07-07). Hunger Strikers at COVID-Infected ICE Jail Were Pepper-Sprayed in Retaliation. truthout.org Image Credit: CoreCivic | As COVID-19 infections continue to rise behind bars, we go inside the Otay Mesa Detention Center in California to speak with detainee Anthony Alexandre, a longtime U.S. resident of Haitian descent, who describes conditions at the for-profit jail, run by private prison company CoreCivic, which has seen a mass outbreak of COVID-19, leading to at least 167 infections and one death. "Basically, CoreCivic is telling us they do not care about our health," says Alexandre. "Th…

Staff (2020-07-07). "They Don't Care About Our Health": Hunger Striker at Otay Mesa ICE Jail Speaks Out as COVID Spreads. democracynow.org As COVID-19 infections continue to rise behind bars, we go inside the Otay Mesa Detention Center in California to speak with Anthony Alexandre, a longtime U.S. resident of Haitian descent, who describes conditions at the for-profit jail, run by private prison company CoreCivic, which has seen a mass outbreak of COVID-19, leading to at least 167 infections and one death. "Basically, CoreCivic is telling us they do not care about our health," says Alexandre. "They do not care about anything else but their bottom line."

David Trujillo (2020-07-07). The continuing evolution of Latinx voting—and voter suppression. peoplesworld.org LOS ANGELES — The Latinx vote in the upcoming November elections is critical. Don't be denied the right to vote. Don't get discouraged if there are attempts to sway you away from voting. One person, one vote is still the golden rule of democracy. Su voto es su voz—Your vote is your voice. Voter suppression …

Ed Sanders (2020-07-07). The Burning of Newgate Prison: a Glyph. counterpunch.org

commondreams (2020-07-07). Lawsuit Over Israel Boycott Should Be Dismissed as SLAPP, Academics Argue. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Tansel A, Graham DY. (2020-07-07). Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis for ICU Patients. jamanetwork.com To the Editor The trial comparing proton pump inhibitors and histamine-2 receptor blockers for stress ulcer prophylaxis in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) receiving mechanical ventilation found that even though proton pump inhibitors were more effective in reducing the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, there was no significant difference between proton pump inhibitors and histamine-2 receptor blockers in relation to 90-day all-cause mortality, Clostridioides difficile infection, or ICU and hospital lengths of stay. The study indirectly measured the effect of gastric acid suppression on the stated outco…

_____ (2020-07-07). COVID-19 Behind The Walls. popularresistance.org At least 48,764 cases of COVID-19 have been reported among prisoners. The data suggest that even these numbers may be underreported. Texas leads in the number of cases with 7,757, followed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons with 6,621 cases. Ohio, Michigan, California and Tennessee are right behind Texas and the BOP with 4,950, 3,991, 3,800, and 3,171 cases, respectively. | At least 585 prisoner deaths from the virus have been reported, with 91 from the federal BOP, 84 in Ohio, 69 in Texas, 68 in Michigan and the rest in other states. As far as prison staff are concerned, 10,342 cases and 42 deaths have been report…

Saed Bannoura (2020-07-07). Statement: "Death Of Palestinian Detainee Not Confirmed" imemc.org The Israeli Prison Service has not yet officially informed the Palestinians or the Red Cross of the death of a Palestinian detainee in prison, while the current information reveals that the detainee is likely clinically dead, but so far, there has been no official confirmation, despite various conflicting reports. Former …

Michael Berkowitz (2020-07-06). 'John Lewis: Good Trouble': A fine new documentary about a courageous life. peoplesworld.org When Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis was a kid, his parents brought him up to be religious and mindful of society's rules. But his grandfather also told him to engage in "good trouble, necessary trouble." Elder Lewis told his young grandson that sometimes good trouble would be needed to do what is right. …

RT (2020-07-06). Statue for black abolitionist Frederick Douglass in NY state beyond repair after ripped down by vandals (PHOTOS). rt.com A statue for Frederick Douglass, a former slave who became a prominent civil rights advocate, has been torn down from its pedestal in Rochester, New York state. The damage to the monument is reportedly too significant to fix it. | The statue was vandalized over the July 4th weekend, Rochester police told local media on Sunday. | Photos from the scene show an empty spot where the statue used to stand in Maplewood Park, as well as its debris scattered in the vicinity. The statue was lying some 50 feet from its pedestal, when officers found it. | The base of a Frederick Douglass statue torn down overnight here in…

RT (2020-07-06). Statue for black abolitionist Frederick Douglass in NY state beyond repair after it was ripped down by vandals (PHOTOS). rt.com A statue for Frederick Douglass, a former slave who became a prominent civil rights advocate, has been torn down from its pedestal in Rochester, New York. The damage to the monument is reportedly too significant to repair. | The statue was vandalized over the July 4th weekend, Rochester police told local media on Sunday. | Photos from the scene show an empty spot where the statue used to stand in Maplewood Park, as well as its debris scattered in the vicinity. The statue was lying 50 feet from its pedestal when officers found it. | The base of a Frederick Douglass statue torn down overnight here in Maplewood P…

RT (2020-07-06). 'You can't blame it on police', Atlanta mayor says after 8yo black girl shot dead during protest. rt.com The mayor of Atlanta, Georgia gave an impassioned plea to disclose any information on the gunmen who shot up a car, killing an eight-year-old black girl inside, during a BLM protest. | The shooters need to be brought to justice, because as long as they are roaming free, they pose a threat to everyone, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said during an emotional press conference on Sunday. Staying silent regarding people like them will not keep people safe, and violence undermines the cause that has gained momentum in the past weeks, she said. | "In the civil rights movement there was a defined common enemy. We are figh…

Cassandra Lopez, Juan Lopez (2020-07-06). Oakland demonstrators say, 'Black Trans Lives Matter!'. peoplesworld.org OAKLAND—At the invitation of our godson, David Johnson, we headed to the "Black Trans Lives Matter" demonstration at Lake Merritt in Oakland June 12 with eager anticipation. It was another unique manifestation of the massive Black Lives Matter protests that have resulted from the police murders of Black people. In this case, it was members …

FIRE (2020-07-06). U.S. imperialism means we can't breathe! workers.org Fight for Im/migrants and Refugees Everywhere released this statement on July 5. Fight for Im/migrants and Refugees Everywhere (FIRE) is in solidarity with the global rebellion for Black lives. It is right to rebel against police terror. The same racist, sexist, police violence used to terrorize people at home is . . . |

Mike Whitney (2020-07-06). Are the Democrats a Political Party or a CIA-Backed Fifth Column? globalresearch.ca How do the Democrats benefit from the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests? | While the protests are being used to paint Trump as a race-bating white supremacist, that is not their primary objective. The main goal is to suppress and demonize …

Steve Ellner (2020-07-06). David Harvey's New Thesis "Capitalism is too Big to Fail": Is it? zcomm.org It is surprising that at this moment, when dire circumstances have generated a degree of hope, with the Black Lives Matter protests and such widespread disillusionment with the system, that Harvey comes up with this line of thinking…

_____ (2020-07-06). Raleigh Black Lives Matter Protest Reaches 35th Day. popularresistance.org For the 35th consecutive day, Black Lives Matter protesters chanted, made speeches, waved signs and marched across downtown Raleigh on Saturday. They are protesting SB 168 which lawmakers passed nearly unanimously with no discussion in the wee hours of the morning on June 27, would shield death investigation records from the public when they are shared with the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Those records are now considered public under state law. | "The fact that they're trying to … pass this over on us and act like it's no big deal like they're just gonna ignore us — that is why we're so mu…

_____ (2020-07-06). Seattle's CHOP Advanced The Movement For Black Lives. popularresistance.org What is unthinkable, or was at the beginning of the month, is the power of the Black Lives Matter movement in the streets. The emergence of the autonomous zone is a pinnacle of that power, a significant victory. It demonstrates the ability of popular power to win the impossible from structures of white supremacy — the state and the propertied interests they represent. That victory, and the subsequent diminution of state violence, is a major step forward for community self-control and autonomy. It shows that ending anti-Black violence is the first and most basic step to honoring Black life. | But it is just…

RT (2020-07-06). Georgia governor declares emergency & deploys National Guard as Atlanta violence skyrockets amid Black Lives Matter protests. rt.com Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has ordered National Guard troops to deploy in Atlanta, after rioters ransacked the state police headquarters. Shootings in the city have doubled in the wake of protests against police brutality. | Some 1,000 soldiers will be deployed to protect the state Capitol, the governor's mansion, and the Department of Public Safety building that was vandalized over the weekend, Kemp announced Monday. | "Peaceful protests were hijacked by criminals with a dangerous, destructive agenda. Now, innocent Georgians are being targeted, shot, and left for dead," Kemp said. "This lawlessness must be s…

RT (2020-07-06). 'Keep this s**t in f**king New York': California woman faces vandalism charges after VIDEO shows her painting over BLM mural. rt.com Martinez, California police have asked the public to help them identify a woman filmed covering a Black Lives Matter mural (which was greenlit by the city) while her partner argued that the "narrative of racism" is a liberal lie. | The incident took place on July 4th in front of the local courthouse, where a giant yellow-lettered 'Black Lives Matter' mural popped up earlier that day. | The mural in support of the ongoing protests against police brutality was approved by the city. However, it was in urgent need of restoration only a couple of hours into its existence after a woman, armed with cans of paint and…

RT (2020-07-06). White supremacy, or harmless gesture? Oregon police say cop accused of racist hand signal was simply checking protester was OK. rt.com An Oregon trooper was accused of dog whistling a counter-protester at a Black Lives Matter event in Salem, but state police said it was just an innocent OK gesture. 4Chan pranksters who started the hand sign confusion may rejoice. | The Oregon State Police (OSP) said their investigation into a viral video allegedly showing a white power gesture shown by an officer to an opponent of BLM demonstrators has revealed no wrongdoing. | Footage from the anti-racism protest in Salem on Saturday shows cops on the scene tasked with separating BLM demonstrators from groups of counter-protesters. The video shows one of the…

The Canary (2020-07-06). Harry and Meghan say past wrongs of Commonwealth need to be acknowledged. thecanary.co The duke and duchess of Sussex warned that the Commonwealth's past wrongs need to be acknowledged in order to move forward, as they joined a discussion on justice and equal rights.Harry and Meghan both took part in the video call with young leaders in one of the Queen's Commonwealth Trust's (QCT) weekly sessions set up in response to the growing Black Lives Matter movement.The Commonwealth's past mistakes: The duke, whose grandmother the Queen is head of the Commonwealth, last week outlined his personal commitment to tackling institutional racism. Harry said: When you look across the Commonwealth, there is…

Mark Gruenberg (2020-07-06). Mexican labor lawyer Susana Prieto Terrazas arrested, raising USMCA enforcement doubts. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON—The arrest and detention in Mexico of prominent and outspoken pro-worker labor lawyer Susana Prieto Terrazas is raising questions about whether Mexico can implement its commitments under the new "free trade" pact with the U.S. and Canada, which took effect July 1. Susana Prieto Terrazas was arrested in May on charges of inciting a riot …