2020-08-01: News Headlines

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2020-08-01). 2009 H1N1 Vaccine Caused Brain Damage in Children. Dr. Anthony Fauci on "Vaccine Safety" Issues. globalresearch.ca A lawsuit against the Trudeau Government for its handling of the COVID-19 Crisis has been launched. What is at stake is the violation of fundamental rights of Canadians. | "The mass and indiscriminate containment of citizens, the restriction of access to …

Tom Coburg (2020-08-01). A UK-funded contractor is providing intelligence support to Trump's protester-attacking paramilitaries. thecanary.co Paramilitary units deployed by Donald Trump to the US city of Portland, in response to Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests, have been identified. Interestingly, intelligence for one of the units is handled by a multinational corporation that recently won a UK contract to manage NHS data. | Federal units identified: | Units engaging with protesters in Portland have been identified in a New York Times video. They

ANSWER Indiana (2020-08-01). Black Lives Matter Coalition calls for termination of 21 officers involved in 2019 drowning of Keshawn Stewart. liberationnews.org We demand an end to the war on Black America!

Lily Cooper (2020-08-01). Portland anti-racist protesters undeterred by repression. liberationnews.org For 63 days, every possible attempt to derail a people's movement in defense of Black lives has been made against protesters in Portland, Oregon. Every red-baiting, reactionary talking point has been deployed. On the ground, the Portland Police Bureau, the National Guard and three different types of federal paramilitary police have attempted to crush dissent. …

RT (2020-08-01). Portland man faces up to 20 years in prison after throwing explosive at federal courthouse, ID'd by vest his grandma bought him. rt.com A young man in Portland faces up to 20 years in prison on arson charges, accused of hurling a bomb at a courthouse amid ongoing police brutality protests. He was identified by a tactical vest gifted to him by his grandmother.

WSWS Repost (2020-08-01). Open Letter from WSWS Chairman to Alphabet Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai. indybay.org Why was the World Socialist Web Site never informed that its claim of suppression was being discussed within Alphabet/Google management, or that an investigation was being conducted into its complaint?>

WSWS (2020-08-01). Lawsuit exposes massive COVID-19 outbreak at privately-run immigrant detention center in Virginia. wsws.org The Farmville Detention Center has the largest COVID-19 outbreak of all immigrant detainment facilities in the United States.

_____ (2020-08-01). Honestly, People In The US Couldn't Care Less About Hong Kong. popularresistance.org I just spent two weeks in the United States, investigating, analyzing the situation there. | I worked in Washington D.C., Minneapolis, where Mr. George Floyd was murdered by deranged cops, in New York City and Boston. COVID-19 was at my tail, as the states kept opening and closing, frantically. Demonstrations were shaking the country, protests against endemic racism and discrimination have been erupting in hundreds of cities and towns. | In several of my reports, I described confusion and deep contradictions, which have been devastating this, still the most powerful nation in the Western world.

sputniknews (2020-08-01). Russian Foreign Intelligence Chief Hopes Incident in Belarus Resolved for Friendly Ties. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia's Foreign Intelligence Chief Sergey Naryshkin said on Saturday he hoped the incident of Minsk's detention of 33 Russian nationals will be resolved in the interest of fraternal relations between the two countries.

Staff (2020-07-31). Barack Obama: Honor John Lewis by Renewing Voting Rights Act & Ballot Access in the U.S. democracynow.org In his stirring eulogy at the funeral service for Congressmember John Lewis, President Barack Obama said expanded voting rights would be the greatest way to honor the civil rights icon's legacy. In a speech that condemned the status of American democracy without ever naming the sitting president, Obama called for election day to be declared a national holiday, full Congressional representation for Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, and the end of the filibuster, which he called a "Jim Crow relic." "You want to honor John? Let's honor him by revitalizing the law he was willing to die for," Obama said in reference…

Staff (2020-07-31). Civil Rights Hero John Lewis Remembered at Funeral as "Patriot Who Risked His Life" for Democracy. democracynow.org As family, friends and dignitaries paid their final respects at the Atlanta funeral of John Lewis, the civil rights leader and 17-term Georgia Congressmember was remembered as a singular force for equality and justice. The funeral took place at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, once led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., where senior pastor Rev. Raphael Warnock contrasted Lewis' legacy with "some in high office who are much better at division than vision," and described the late politician as "a true American patriot who risked his life and bled for the hope and promise of democracy."

Staff (2020-07-31). Rev. James Lawson: John Lewis's Life Is Call to Action Against U.S. Violence & Plantation Capitalism. democracynow.org As mourners gathered at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta to honor the life of Georgia Congressmember John Lewis, among those who spoke was civil rights icon Rev. James Lawson, who helped to train John Lewis in nonviolence when Lewis was a student in Nashville. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once described Rev. Lawson as "the leading theorist and strategist of nonviolence in the world." Lawson invoked John Lewis's life as a call to action. "We will not be quiet as long as our nation continues to be the most violent culture in the history of humankind," Lawson said. We feature his extended remarks.

Staff (2020-07-31). Headlines for July 31, 2020. democracynow.org U.S. Coronavirus Deaths Top 1,000 for Fourth Consecutive Day, U.S. Economy Recorded Worst Quarterly Drop on Record as Coronavirus Spread, New Orleans Protesters Block Eviction Court Proceedings as Rent Comes Due, Brazil's First Lady Tests Positive for COVID-19 as Deaths Top 91,000, Coronavirus Cases Spike in European Countries that Lifted Lockdowns, Donald Trump Suggests Election Delay, Sparking Bipartisan Outrage, U.S. Postal Delays Spark Fears Over Mail-In Ballots in November Election, Civil Rights Icon and Georgia Congressmember John Lewis Laid to Rest, Herman Cain, Co-Chair of Black Voices for Trump, Dies of…

Matthew Scully (2020-07-31). The Triple Antagonist of the Police, Policing, and Policy. counterpunch.org In 1967, Chester Himes wrote, "Police brutality toward black people in the United States is of such common usage and longstanding to have attained acceptance as proper behavior." On the one hand, not much has changed. Every day we see the virulent and repressive state violence against Black Lives Matter protestors marching, occupying space, and

W. T. Whitney (2020-07-31). "We Charge Genocide:" Forerunner at UN of Black Lives Matter. counterpunch.org The police killing of George Floyd on May 25 provoked demonstrations worldwide. The United Nations Human Rights Council on June 17 debated a draft resolution introduced by the "African Group" of nations that condemned "structural racism endemic to the criminal justice system in the United States." The African nations were responding to a letter from

CounterSpin (2020-07-31). Alex Main on Bolivia Coup, Carol Anderson on Voter Suppression. fair.org Media…

RT (2020-07-31). Cultured Convicts: survey reveals Russian prisoners prefer to read Tolstoy, Dumas & other high brow literature while doing time. rt.com What would you do to pass the time if you were behind bars? In Russia, they read. On Thursday, the country's prison service released a list of the most-read books, and Mikhail Bulgakov's 'Master and Margarita' came in first. | The top-10 list was released in conjunction with a national campaign called 'Books Are Your Friends.' | Bulgakov's novel, once-censored in the Soviet-era, was followed by Fyodor Dostoyevsky's 'Crime and Punishment' and 'The Count of Monte Cristo' by Alexandre Dumas – the highest-ranking foreign title. | Russian prisoners have great taste in literature. Top 6 books most popular with convi…

RT (2020-07-31). Seattle City Council moving to defund 'racist' police department & replace it with 'community-led' public safety system. rt.com Seattle lawmakers are attempting to completely defund the city's police department and replace it with a new "civilian-led" public safety system in response to ongoing Black Lives Matter protests. | The Seattle City Council has already come under fire this week for proposing a 50 percent cut to the police department's budget — a proposal that prompted hundreds of citizens to express their concerns during a council meeting on Wednesday. | Yet, newly revealed legislation now shows that the council may be doing a lot more than simply stripping police of half their funding. Lawmakers are moving to completely…

RT (2020-07-31). Three teens sentenced to 42 years in prison on manslaughter charges over horror death of Andrew Harper. rt.com Three UK teens who dragged police officer Andrew Harper to his death on a rope behind their getaway car after a failed quad bike theft last year, have been sentenced to a total of 42 years in prison after a high-profile trial.

Sanjali De Silva (2020-07-31). Police Divestment Efforts Must Include Universities. aclu.org Despite their intended role as peacekeepers, private university officers are often responsible for violence against students and local residents alike. In July 2015, a University of Cincinnati police officer

Nicole Zayas Fortier (2020-07-31). Prosecutors Disappoint During the Pandemic — 3rd Edition. aclu.org As the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to become a death sentence for people trapped in prisons and jails across the U.S., the actions — or inaction — of prosecutors to decarcerate have had a tangible life or death impact. We examined the responses from prosecutors in the 20 biggest cities in this country. This is the third post in the series — you can also read the

Emilio Leanza (2020-07-31). On the Line: This Is a Revolution. progressive.org For three nights in Madison, Wisconsin, hundreds of young Black Lives Matter activists were met with tear gas, pepper spray, and projectiles from police.

commondreams (2020-07-31). New Federal Lawsuit Challenges Indiana Ballot Deadline. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Center For Biological Diversity (2020-07-31). Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration's Attack on Landmark Environmental Law. globalresearch.ca A nationwide coalition of organizations from the environmental-justice, outdoor and conservation communities Earlier this month the administration finalized rules that will eviscerate core components of …

Eliza Egret (2020-07-31). UK prisoners are stuck in solitary confinement in extreme heat as UK temperatures reach 37 ∞C. thecanary.co While parts of the UK basked in As the Independent

_____ (2020-07-31). Korean Americans For Black Lives. popularresistance.org Liberty Park is one of the very few public green spaces left in Koreatown; the choice for 'Ktown for Black Lives' to meet here is intentional. | Organized by the neighborhood's activists and community members, the monthly gathering aims to mobilize residents against state-sanctioned violence that regularly takes the lives of Black and Brown people. Since its start in June, hundreds of 'Ktown for Black Lives' attendees have assembled on the 2.5 acres of land to participate in political education and mutual aid efforts such as the redistribution of meals and sanitary supplies. | 'Ktown for Black Lives' points to th…

Staff (2020-07-31). Barack Obama: End the Filibuster to Restore Voting Rights Act. truthout.org In his stirring eulogy at the funeral service for Congressmember John Lewis, President Barack Obama said expanded voting rights would be the greatest way to honor the civil rights icon's legacy. In a speech that condemned the status of American democracy without ever naming the sitting president, Obama called for election day to be declared a national holiday, full Congressional representation for Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, and the end of the filibuster, which he called a "Jim Crow relic." "You want to…

Staff (2020-07-31). Bill Clinton Used John Lewis's Funeral to Disparage the Black Freedom Struggle. truthout.org Bill Clinton has a penchant for overstepping, for going too far and for being too cocky, especially when it comes to Black people. He assumes a kind of insider posture that is, quite frankly, offensive. | This posture was on full display yesterday when, while eulogizing the late civil rights leader and Congressman John Lewis, Clinton took the liberty to render his opinion about who was a good Black leader vs. who was a not-so-good Black leader. In referring to the political differences betwe…

NAACP (2020-07-31). Thursday 8/27: 2020 Virtual March on Washington (NAACP, Day 1). indybay.org Online via livestream…

NAACP (2020-07-31). Friday 8/28: 2020 Virtual March on Washington (NAACP, Day 2). indybay.org Online via livestream…

Eoin Higgins, staff writer (2020-07-31). Exclusive: 25 Civil Rights Groups Condemn Trump Over Election Delay Threat, Demand Congress Fund Voting Protections. commondreams.org www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-10581469401_0_0.jpg

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2020-07-30). Video: Covid-19 and the Censorship of Medical Doctors. LancetGate and the Suppression of Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). globalresearch.ca Medical doctors at an event in front of the US Supreme Court are accused of making false statements. | The video of their press conference was removed by Youtube and Facebook. They are accused by CNN of spreading "fake science" | The …

W. T. Whitney Jr. (2020-07-30). "We Charge Genocide"—Forerunner at UN of Black Lives Matter. peoplesworld.org The police killing of George Floyd on May 25 provoked demonstrations worldwide. The United Nations Human Rights Council on June 17 debated a draft resolution introduced by the "African Group" of nations that condemned "structural racism endemic to the criminal justice system in the United States." The African nations were responding to a letter from …

RT (2020-07-30). Feds won't leave Portland 'until there is safety': Trump rejects Oregon governor's claim that 'occupying force' is leaving city. rt.com Less than a day after Oregon's governor claimed federal agents would leave Portland and let local officials handle Black Lives Matter protesters, President Donald Trump said they are going nowhere until things are under control. | In a Thursday morning tweet, Trump said Governor Kate Brown "isn't doing her job" and insisted that protesters must be cleared out and "in some cases" arrested. "If she can't do it, the Federal Government will do it for her. We will not be leaving until there is safety!" he wrote. | Kate Brown, Governor of Oregon, isn't doing her job. She must clear out, and in some cases arrest, the…

RT (2020-07-30). UK MP who allegedly told victim 'I'm a naughty Tory' convicted on sexual assault charges. rt.com An ex-Conservative lawmaker who allegedly told one of his victims "I'm a naughty Tory" has been found guilty on three counts of sexual assault. The judge warned the former MP that he now faces the "real possibility" of jail. | Charlie Elphicke, the former MP for Dover, revealed during the trial at Southwark Crown Court in London that he had wanted an affair with one of his victims — a UK parliamentary worker — but he had denied committing any offences. | The 49-year-old faced charges relating to two women — one in her early 30s who he assaulted at his home in 2007, and a UK parliamentary staffer…

RT (2020-07-30). Ex-US Marine sentenced to 9 years in Russian prison after drunken assault on two Moscow police officers. rt.com Texan Trevor Reed, a 29-year-old student and former US Marine, has been found guilty of attacking two police officers and handed a nine year jail sentence by a Moscow court, prompting media speculation about a "prisoner swap." | The former marine has been accused of attacking the officers last summer while drunk after attending a party. According to the prosecutors, some Moscow residents called the police when they saw a rowdy troublemaker arguing with two women. The drunk man, who turned out to be Reed, tried to resist arrest. | It was inside the police car that the man suddenly became aggressive and elbowed…

Nicole Zayas Fortier (2020-07-30). Prosecutors Disappoint During Pandemic — 2nd Edition. aclu.org As the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to become a death sentence for people trapped in prisons and jails across the U.S., the actions — or inaction — of prosecutors to decarcerate have had a tangible life or death impact. We examined the responses from prosecutors in the 20 biggest cities in this country. This is the second post in the series. You can read the first

Ken Klippenstein (2020-07-30). How the DHS Can Still Arrest Journalists in Portland. thenation.com How the DHS Can Still Arrest Journalists in Portland…

Ed Rampell (2020-07-30). The ACLU's Fight for Constitutional Rights. progressive.org New documentary gets up close and personal with the group's courtroom gladiators.

commondreams (2020-07-30). ACLU Comment on Trump Tweet About Delaying Election. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Steve Beck (2020-07-30). 'Strike for Black Lives' Action Wins Victory for Seattle Transit Workers. zcomm.org County Council votes to fund promised transit raises one day after rally called by Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity (OWLS) to coincide with Seattle Strike for Black Lives.

Mark Friedman (2020-07-30). Wilmington Protest Meeting Demands Federal Troops Out of Portland, US Troops Out of Cuba. counterpunch.org A successful meeting and street protest in Wilmington, California, a neighborhood near the LA Harbor, highlighted harbor area efforts for Black Lives Matter and efforts to end the US blockade of Cuba. The meeting held at the Wilmington Machinists Union hall was opened by International Association of Machinists Local 1484 President Kevin Kucera saying "It gives

Andrew Emett (2020-07-30). 4 corrections officers charged with beating inmate and cover-up. nationofchange.org If convicted, Finch, Thomas, and Blaylock face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the civil rights charges.

IMEMC News (2020-07-30). On Eve Of Al-Adha, 4500 Palestinians, Including 39 Women And 160 Children, Imprisoned By Israel" imemc.org On the eve of al-Adha Muslim feast, Palestinian researcher specialized in detainee's affairs, former political prisoner, Abdul-Nasser Ferwana, has reported that Israel is holding captive around 4500 Palestinians, including 39 women, 160 children, 6 legislators and 360 who are held under the arbitrary Administrative Detention orders without charges or trial. …

Ali Salam (2020-07-30). 25 Palestinians Detained Across West Bank. imemc.org Israeli forces detained 25 Palestinian civilians overnight Tuesday, into early Wednesday, from various towns in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Prisoners' Society (PPS) confirmed. In the northern West Bank district of Nablus, Israeli soldiers took 12 Palestinian civilians into custody, from several areas, including former prisoners; 1. Khaled Abu …

IMEMC News (2020-07-30). PPS: "Israeli Soldiers Abduct Seventeen Palestinians In West Bank" imemc.org The Palestinian Prisoners' Society (PPS) has reported that Israeli soldiers abducted, overnight until morning hours Thursday, seventeen Palestinians, including former political prisoners and the coordinator of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement. The PPS said the soldiers abducted six Palestinians from the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in the occupied …

_____ (2020-07-30). Is Burning Prisons The New Knocking Down Confederate Statues? popularresistance.org Saturday afternoon in Seattle, Washington, a construction site where a youth detention center was being built burned to the ground. | The King County juvenile detention facility is assumed to have been set ablaze by some of the thousands of Seattle demonstrators who marched in protest to both the federal government terrorizing it's neighboring city of Portland, Oregon, as well as policemen murdering innocent and unarmed Black Americans. | The timing of the fire set to the youth prison feels deeply symbolic, especially in light of a Michigan court case where a Black teenage girl is currently serving time inside of…

_____ (2020-07-30). Portland: Getting Out of Jail Requires Relinquishing Constitutional Rights. popularresistance.org Federal authorities are using a new tactic in their battle against protesters in Portland, Oregon: arrest them on offenses as minor as "failing to obey" an order to get off a sidewalk on federal property — and then tell them they can't protest anymore as a condition for release from jail. | Legal experts describe the move as a blatant violation of the constitutional right to free assembly, but at least 12 protesters arrested in recent weeks have been specifically barred from attending protests or demonstrations as they await trials on federal misdemeanor charges. | "Defendant may not attend any other protes…

sputniknews (2020-07-30). Italy's Matteo Salvini Could Face Jail After Senate Votes to Strip Him of Immunity. sputniknews.com The coronavirus pandemic has seen a collapse in the support base for the nationalist Lega Nord party and now its leader, Matteo Salvini, is facing legal problems after being stripped of political immunity. The former government minister could, however, potentially benefit from being put back in the limelight.

sputniknews (2020-07-30). Several US States Probe Apple Over Deceptive Trade Due to 'Unexpected Shutdowns' of iPhones: Report. sputniknews.com Last week, a document released by the Tech Transparency Project, a tech watchdog group, revealed that the Texas state attorney general was expected to file a lawsuit against Apple Inc., as part of a multi-state probe into the tech giant, for violating the state's deceptive trade practices law. The document did not name charges, according to Axios.