(2020-02-13). 'Pay them triple' U.S. soccer men's union backs women's team's call for pay equity. peoplesworld.org 
The U.S. men's national team player's union publicly challenged the U.S. Soccer Federation to do right by all its players: Significantly increase the pay of the women's team, and stop low-balling during contract negotiations. Clean and simple. The players union for the women's national team filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the USSF last year …
(2020-02-13). "Traumatizing from the Get-Go": Weinstein Trial Exposes Flawed Approach to Sexual Assault Cases. democracynow.org 
We continue our conversation about the trial of alleged sexual predator Harvey Weinstein, ahead of the scheduled start of opening arguments today. Weinstein is facing five felony charges, based on accusations brought forth by two women in the case, and, if convicted, could face up to life in prison. Last week, one of his accusers, Jessica Mann, broke down and went into an apparent panic attack during questioning from Weinstein's lawyers, forcing the judge to adjourn proceedings for the day. Mann was made to read past emails to a boyfriend, in which she disclosed she had been sexually assaulted before meeting Wein…
(2020-02-13). Russian authorities investigate after photos emerge of Boris Nemtsov murderer allegedly enjoying prison 'feast'. rt.com 
The 2015 killing of Boris Nemtsov shocked Russians, and now photographs posted online of the man who assassinated him apparently posing in front of a slap-up meal are generating considerable anger. | The images, taken in an Irkutsk penal colony, show Zaur Dadaev and a group of other men surrounded by kebabs, soups, fruits, and juices. In response, Russian prison authorities have launched an investigation to determine the conditions in which he is being held. | Grilled kebabs, apples and fruit juice. Boris Nemtsov's assassin, Zaur Dadayev, (back left, standing) relaxing with friends in a Russian penal colony.
(2020-02-13). Time's Up for Harvey Weinstein? Closing Arguments Begin in Rape Trial in NYC. democracynow.org 
Closing arguments are scheduled to begin Thursday in the trial of disgraced Hollywood mogul and accused sexual predator Harvey Weinstein. The jury is expected to begin deliberating on Tuesday. Weinstein faces five felonies based on accusations by two women and, if convicted, could face up to life in prison. The trial comes more than two years after initial accusations against the film producer were published in The New Yorker and The New York Times, fueling the #MeToo movement that swept Hollywood and beyond. Since then, over 100 women have accused Weinstein of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment. During t…
(2020-02-13). Did Amy Klobuchar Send an Innocent Teenager to Life in Prison? Questions Mount over Her Record as DA. democracynow.org 
After a surprising third-place finish in the New Hampshire primary, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar is attempting to gain ground in the national polls. But Klobuchar is also facing mounting scrutiny over her record as a district attorney in Minnesota. The Minneapolis NAACP, Black Lives Matter Twin Cities and other racial justice groups recently called on Klobuchar to suspend her presidential campaign following a shocking investigation by the Associated Press. The AP report centered on the case of Myon Burrell, an African-American teenager who was sentenced to life in prison over the 2002 murder of 11-year-old Tye…
(2020-02-13). The Companies Profiteering From Palestinian Oppression. truthdig.com 
This piece originally appeared on The
(2020-02-13). The Epidemic of Hunger Strikes in Immigrant Detention Centers. thenation.com The Epidemic of Hunger Strikes in Immigrant Detention Centers…
(2020-02-13). Justice Department sues New Jersey and Washington state county over "sanctuary" policies. wsws.org The lawsuits are a new stage in President Trump's campaign of anti-immigrant bigotry. In their public responses to the lawsuits, Democratic officials from New Jersey and Washington state revealed their own willingness to trade away immigrants' rights.
(2020-02-13). After 10 months' silence, UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn warns against extradition of Julian Assange. wsws.org For the past year, Corbyn has led the suppression of any discussion over Assange's imprisonment in Britain and the country's participation in the US-led attempt to destroy him.
(2020-02-13). Did Amy Klobuchar Condemn an Innocent Teenager to Life in Prison? truthout.org After a surprising third-place finish in the New Hampshire primary, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar is attempting to gain ground in the national polls. But Klobuchar is also facing mounting scrutiny over her record as a district attorney in Minnesota. The Minneapolis NAACP, Black Lives Matter Twin Cities and other racial justice groups recently called on Klobuchar to suspend her presidential campaign following a shocking investigation by the Associated Press. The AP report centered on the case of Myon Burre…
(2020-02-13). FRSO calls for the immediate release and repatriation of political prisoner Facundo Molares. fightbacknews.org Facundo Molares Schoenfeld is an Argentinian photojournalist who was illegally arrested by the Bolivian dictatorship, and who is currently held in terrible conditions in a Bolivian prison. His life is in danger, as he does not receive adequate medical attention for a life-threatening condition. | This photojournalist was on assignment, for the Argentinian left-wing magazine El Centenario, in Bolivia to document the election of Evo Morales and its aftermath in October, 2019. Bolivia suffered a coup d'état by fascist elements and the military, with the support of the U.S. Embassy in La Paz, on November 10, 2019. A…
(2020-02-13). Democratic Party Asks to Investigate Trump for Abuse of Power. telesurenglish.net The U.S. Democratic Party is calling for an investigation into President Donald Trump's influence on the Justice Department's decision to lower the sentencing recommendation for White House leader's friend Roger Stone, who was found guilty last year of lying to Congress, obstruction, and manipulation of witnesses. | RELATED: | The sudden decision by U.S. Attorney General William Barr to request a lighter prison term f…
(2020-02-12). Deadline Looming, Strongest Surveillance Reform Bill Yet Emerges. aclu.org Congress has just five weeks to decide the fate of key foreign | intelligence surveillance powers — forcing a showdown between surveillance | reformers and defenders. And now, a group of Republicans and Democrats have | unveiled the strongest comprehensive reform proposal that we have seen | yet. | The Safeguarding Americans' Private Records Act of 2020, introduced by a
(2020-02-12). Congress Should Outlaw State Attacks on Abortion Access. aclu.org Before I finished | high school, I learned I was pregnant. As a result of fear and a lack of | resources, by the time I confided in my mother and grandmother, I had no choice | — I was going to be a mother. Becoming a parent as a teenager came with many | harsh realities. I love my children with all my heart, but I know that everyone | should be able to make the decision to parent for themselves. | This personal | experience, along with my passion for young people, is how I came to my work at | the Alabama Women's Center. As a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and medical | director of a Huntsvil…
(2020-02-12). Argentina: Pre-Trial Detention Order Against Fernandez Canceled. telesurenglish.net The Argentinian Justice resolved to cancel the pre-trial detention against the former President and current Vice President of Argentina, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, under a corruption accusation in a case denominated "The Notebooks". | The case, based on photocopied notes supposedly written…
(2020-02-12). Gruesome Details Emerge of Israel's Torture of Palestinian Prisoners. mintpressnews.com One prisoner was hospitalized for kidney failure and 11 broken ribs. Another had his genitals bitten by a security dog while a third man was left wheelchair-bound and unrecognizable.
(2020-02-12). Israeli Soldiers Abduct Seven Palestinians, Install Roadblocks, In West Bank. imemc.org Israeli soldiers abducted, on Wednesday at dawn, seven Palestinians from their homes, in several parts of the occupied West Bank, and installed numerous roadblocks, especially in Ramallah governorate, the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) has reported. The PPS office in Ramallah said the soldiers invaded and ransacked many homes in at-Tira …
(2020-02-12). Soldiers Abduct A Palestinian Near Jenin. imemc.org Israeli soldiers abducted, on Tuesday evening, a young Palestinian man at the al-Jalama military roadblock, north of Jenin, in northern West Bank. Montaser Sammour, the head of the Jenin office of the Palestinian Prisoners' Society (PPS), said the soldiers abducted Karim Salama, 20, and took him to an unknown destination. …
(2020-02-12). 'Too polite'? Bette Midler says Dems must 'toughen up' in wake of car attack on GOP volunteers. rt.com 
One of President Donald Trump's most vocal critics, actress and musician Bette Midler, thinks Democrats need to "toughen up" in their fight against the GOP, even after a Florida man was jailed for physically attacking Republicans. | During one of her anti-Trump tirades on Tuesday night — calling him a "fascist" and "dictator" this time — Midler lashed out at her own party as well. | "Democrats haven't learned a goddamned thing," she tweeted, shaming the party for being "too polite" and urging them to "toughen up" when taking on conservatives. "They play dirty," she said of Republicans, before addin…
(2020-02-11). Four Roger Stone prosecutors quit case as DOJ backs down from 'horrible & unfair' sentencing advice blasted by Trump. rt.com 
The US Justice Department has reconsidered its recommendation that former Trump advisor Roger Stone serve nine years in prison for lying to Congress, instead deferring to the court, while four of its prosecutors have resigned. | Punishing the self-described "dirty trickster" with seven to nine years in prison "could be considered excessive and unwarranted," prosecutors said in a statement on Tuesday. "Ultimately, the government defers to the Court as to what specific sentence is appropriate." | Wow, Mueller prosecutor Zelinsky withdraws from the Stone case AND includes this footnote(!): | "The Court is advised…
(2020-02-11). Maryland unveils statues of abolitionists Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass. thecanary.co 
The US state of Maryland has unveiled bronze statues of famed abolitionists Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass during a ceremony in the State House.The unveiling comes at a time when US states are debating the removal of Confederate monuments.The life-sized statues were dedicated during a special joint session of the Maryland General Assembly in the Old House Chamber, the room where slavery was abolished in the state in 1864."A mark of true greatness is shining light on a system of oppression and having the courage to change it," Adrienne Jones, the state's first black and first female house speaker, said.A br…
(2020-02-11). Sudan to hand over former president to International Criminal Court. thecanary.co 
Sudan's transitional authorities and rebel groups have agreed to hand over former president Omar al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes, including mass killings in Darfur, a top official said.Al-Bashir, who was overthrown by the military last year amid a public uprising, is wanted by the ICC on charges of crimes against humanity and genocide related to the Darfur conflict.Since his ousting in April, he has been in jail in Sudan's capital Khartoum on charges of corruption and killing protesters.Mohammed Hassan al-Taishi, a member of the Sovereign Council and a government negotiator, s…
(2020-02-11). Outpouring of International Solidarity as RCMP Arrest Unist'ot'en Matriarchs. dissidentvoice.org 
As of now people in the Healing Center are safe and not being threatened with arrest, and the four brave land defenders from 44 were released today after spending the weekend in jail. Rail lines continue to be blocked and people have poured into the streets, banks, and Government offices outraged by the RCMP's arrest …
(2020-02-11). The Trump Administration Wants Health Insurance Companies to Drop Abortion Coverage from Your Insurance Plan. aclu.org From denying | access to abortion | for unaccompanied immigrant minors, to gutting | the Title X | family planning program, to trying to roll | back the Affordable Care Act's requirement that employers and universities cover | contr…
(2020-02-11). Palestine Stand Confronts Toulouse-Tel Aviv Twinning Project. imemc.org Photo: Collectif Palestine Vaincra | On Saturday, 8 February, activists and supporters of Collectif Palestine Vaincra, a member organization of Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, organized a Palestine tabling stand near the entrance of Metro Capitole in downtown Toulouse, France. | Photo:…
(2020-02-11). Desperate asylum seekers 'starving for justice' in immigrant prison hunger strikes across Louisiana. splcenter.org Guards shackled Sai Mahad to a chair, placed a mask over his mouth and snaked a long tube through one of his nostrils.
(2020-02-10). How Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Broke Through in Iowa. aclu.org 
Our next president | must be committed to protecting and advancing the civil liberties and civil | rights guaranteed to all of us in the Constitution, and the current goal for | our key issues. We now have most of the results from the Iowa caucuses last week, | and one thing stood out to us: Voters overwhelmingly supported candidates who | made specific commitments to Rights for All policies. | When we launched | the Rights for All effort last year, we were determined to elevate ke…
(2020-02-10). Journalist Abby Martin Sues State of Georgia Over Law Requiring Pledge of Allegiance to Israel. mintpressnews.com "This censorship of my talk based on forced compliance to anti-BDS laws in Georgia is just one level of a nationwide campaign to protect Israel from grassroots pressure."
(2020-02-10). Hey Clearview, Your Misleading PR Campaign Doesn't Make Your Face Surveillance Product Any Less Dystopian. aclu.org 
In the last few weeks, a company called Clearview has been
(2020-02-06). The Government's Nightmare Vision for Face Recognition at Airports and Beyond. aclu.org The Department of Homeland Security has a
(2020-02-05). The Government is Using its Foreign Intelligence Spying Powers for Routine Domestic Investigations. aclu.org More than forty years ago, Congress | gave the executive branch a set of exceptional surveillance powers to pursue | foreign spies on U.S. soil. Now, the government is increasingly relying on those | powers to advance ordinary domestic criminal investigations. | In United States v. | Osseily, a fraud prosecution in California, the government appears to have used | this surveillance — which is conducted under the Foreign Intelligence | Surveillance Act (FISA) — to a longtime perm…
(2020-02-05). Using Bail as Ransom Violates the Core Tenets of Pretrial Justice. aclu.org Rebecca Gill was out of | options. At 39 years old, she was arrested and though not convicted of a crime | and presumed innocent, confined to a jail cell. This happened because of a cash | bail requirement that she couldn't afford. Her friends didn't have extra money | to help, and she was unlikely to see a judge until she'd been in jail for two | full weeks. | Stuck in jail, she was in | jeopardy of losing her job and her driver's license. Losing her license would result | in myriad consequences, such as preventing her from getting to work and making | it more difficult to take care of her son and mother. | T…
(2020-02-04). Biden Threatens Lawsuit to Halt Release of Real Iowa Caucus Results. theantimedia.com American democracy—ain't it grand?>
(2020-02-03). Block the Vote: Voter Suppression in 2020. aclu.org 
Voting should be as easy and convenient as possible, and in many cases it is. But across the U.S., too many politicians are passing measures making it harder to cast a ballot. The goal is to manipulate political outcomes, and the result is a severely compromised democracy that doesn't reflect the will of the people. Our democracy works best when all eligible voters can participate and have their voices heard. | Suppression efforts range from the seemingly unobstructive, like voter ID laws and cuts to early voting, to mass purges of voter rolls and systemic disenfranchisement. And long before election cycles ev…
(2020-02-02). SPLC and the SPLC Action Fund Hire Internationally Renowned Human and Civil Rights Leader as New President and CEO. splcenter.org Margaret Huang brings 25 years of experience advocating against discrimination and oppression around the world.
(2020-01-24). Alive and Well: Voter Suppression and Election Mismanagement in Alabama. splcenter.org …