Monthly Archives: July 2020

2020-07-31: News Headlines

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

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

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…

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). 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…

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…

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

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.

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…

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

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

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.

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. …

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 …

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 …

_____ (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.

Staff (2020-07-29). AG Bill Barr Grilled by House Lawmakers on Protest Crackdown, Voter Suppression & Pandemic Failures. democracynow.org We play highlights from Attorney General William Barr's grilling by the House Judiciary Committee over how he sent militarized federal forces to confront Black Lives Matter protesters, and his opposition to voting by mail, and get response from a close friend of Congressmember John Lewis who is now running for Senate. "In spite of the machinations of Donald Trump and those who do his bidding, including the attorney general, the good news is that we're seeing a multiracial coalition of people pouring out into American streets," responds Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, "saying that we're concerned about the soul of our d…

Staff (2020-07-29). Civil Rights Icon Bernard Lafayette on His Friend John Lewis, Freedom Rides & Practicing Nonviolence. democracynow.org We revisit civil rights leader and Congressmember John Lewis's early years of activism with Bernard Lafayette, one of Lewis's closest friends and collaborators. Lafayette participated with Lewis in the first Freedom Rides of 1961 as they attempted to integrate buses and faced brutal beatings by white mobs, and was a fellow leader in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Lewis "knew how to relate to people who were different from him and who had different orientations, different values, different philosophies, and that's why he was such a great leader," Lafayette says. "He found a way to make a way."

Staff (2020-07-29). Rev. Warnock of Ebenezer Baptist Church on Legacy of John Lewis & Ongoing Fight for Voting Rights. democracynow.org We look at the life and legacy of late civil rights icon and Georgia Congressmember John Lewis, who is being mourned across the U.S. and who became the first Black politician to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. "The irony of this moment is that even as we celebrate and honor John Lewis, the patron saint of voting rights, he hailed from the state which in many instances is ground zero for voter suppression," says Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, who serves as senior pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, was with Lewis in the final days of his life and will preside over his memorial service. "In recen…

Jim McMahan (2020-07-29). Seattle protest in solidarity with Portland. workers.org On July 25, 2,000 youthful anti-racists marched here in solidarity with Portland resistance. As in Portland, Ore., federal repressive forces have been sent to Seattle. The march was called by the Youth Liberation Front. Chanting "Black Lives Matter," the demonstrators headed to the site of a new youth jail. Located . . . |

Nick Pemberton (2020-07-29). Black Lives Matter and the Nuclear Family. counterpunch.org "We make our spaces family-friendly and enable parents to fully participate with their children. We dismantle the patriarchal practice that requires mothers to work "double shifts" so that they can mother in private even as they participate in public justice work. We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended

Judy Greenspan (2020-07-29). Racist guards attack Soledad prisoners. workers.org In a 3 a.m. raid July 20, approximately 200 Black prisoners at California's Soledad state prison were violently taken from their cells with nothing on but their boxer shorts. The men were herded into the chow hall, handcuffed with zip ties and forced to sit shoulder-to-shoulder without masks for hours, . . . |

Betsey Piette (2020-07-29). Unions call for 'Strike for Black Lives'. workers.org On July 20, unions led protests under the general banner "Strike for Black Lives" in over 160 U.S. cities, with tens of thousands participating. The call, initiated by Service Employees (SEIU), was endorsed by over 60 unions and social justice groups. Many of those participating in the protests were essential . . . |

RT (2020-07-29). White BLM activist tells black doctor at center of Covid-19 controversy: 'I'm more black than you on the inside'. rt.com Dr Stella Immanuel has enough skepticism to deal with regarding her controversial medical theories, but in the eyes of at least one Black Lives Matter activist, even her blackness is something to be challenged. | "You're not black on the inside, I'm more black than you on the inside," a masked white man yelled at Immanuel yesterday on the steps the Supreme Court in Washington, where she was part of a group of doctors staging a press conference to promote the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as a coronavirus cure. The man added that Immanuel was "betraying Black Lives Matter" and that "there were people during t…

RT (2020-07-29). Zuckerberg admits Facebook suppresses 'hate speech' BEFORE it's seen by anyone. rt.com Facebook censors almost 90 percent of 'hate speech' before it's allowed to circulate, CEO Mark Zuckerberg told Congress at Wednesday's Big Tech hearing, responding to pressure from Democrats to submit to the advertiser boycott. | "We're able to proactively identify 89 percent of the hate speech that we take down before, I think, it's even seen by other people," Zuckerberg told the Antitrust Subcommittee of the US House of Representatives on Wednesday. | The statement was in response to Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) pressuring Facebook to "join the civil rights movement" by submitting to the demands of the Sto…

Kanya Bennett (2020-07-29). Communities Deserve Better Than Bayonets and Grenade Launchers: The Defense 1033 Program Must End Now. aclu.org Police

Nicole Zayas Fortier (2020-07-29). Prosecutors Disappoint During the Pandemic. aclu.org From the outset of the COVID-19 crisis, it was clear that the impact on people living and working in jails and prisons was potentially catastrophic. Advocates, including the

Michael Winship (2020-07-29). "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Picks on Portland to Pick Up Votes. commondreams.org A crowd of about 1,500 protesters gather at the Multnomah County Justice center for a Black Lives Matter march on July 20, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. Monday night marked 54 days of protests in the city. (Photo: Nathan Howard/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/gettyimages-12277186951.jpg

Sarah Anderson (2020-07-29). Workers Need the Right to Sue. progressive.org Republicans want to give corporate CEOs a five-year "get out of jail free card" for jeopardizing the health and safety of their workers while threatening the overall economic recovery.

WSWS (2020-07-29). French state sues mayor for linking police repression to pro-Nazi Vichy regime. wsws.org The lawsuit against Colombes Mayor Patrick Chaimovitch tramples on historical truth and basic democratic rights.

commondreams (2020-07-29). Environment America Joins Lawsuit Challenging NEPA Rollback. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Jason Mark (2020-07-29). It's Time to Bring the Carbon Barons to Justice—and Take Their Money. thenation.com It's Time to Bring the Carbon Barons to Justice—and Take Their Money…

Association of American Physicians and Surgeon (2020-07-29). American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) Sues the FDA to End Its Arbitrary Restrictions on Hydroxychloroquine. globalresearch.ca Today, June 2, 2020, the Association of American Physicians & Surgeons (AAPS) filed a lawsuit, AAPS v. FDA, against the Food and Drug Administration to end its arbitrary interference with the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), which

WSWS (2020-07-29). McCarthyite witch-hunt over alleged anti-Semitism explodes in British Labour Party. wsws.org Political opposition to the criminal suppression of the Palestinians by Israel is being officially recast as a form of anti-Semitism, slandering and virtually outlawing a vast swathe of left-wing opinion.

_____ (2020-07-29). Calls For Video Related To John Neville's Death Persist. popularresistance.org Protesters made new demands of Forsyth County elected officials Tuesday, calling for a general increase in transparency from county leaders, and specifically, the release of video pertaining to the death of an inmate at the Forsyth County Detention Center. | "We're fighting for truth, justice, dignity, humanity, economic justice, social justice," said Tony Ndege, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Winston-Salem. "We stand against state violence, but we also stand for social and economic justice." | Demonstrations began in Winston-Salem weeks ago and groups like Black Lives Matter Winston-Salem say they plan to cont…

_____ (2020-07-29). Preparing For A November Surprise. popularresistance.org Nationwide protests against police brutality following George Floyd's murder are the broadest and most persistent in US history. They have laid bare the racism that pervades American society—and demonstrated the willingness of Americans to take to the streets and resist oppression, even in the midst of a pandemic. Americans must continue demanding an end to white supremacy and follow the lead of Black organizers to galvanize a similar flexing of civic muscle to help ensure democratic continuity come November. With elections four months away and the rule of law under steady attack, people power could prove d…

Staff (2020-07-29). Bill Barr Grilled by House Lawmakers on Protest Crackdown and Voter Suppression. truthout.org We play highlights from Attorney General William Barr's grilling by the House Judiciary Committee over how he sent militarized federal forces to confront Black Lives Matter protesters, and his opposition to voting by mail, and get response from a close friend of Congressmember John Lewis who is now running for Senate. "In spite of the machinations of Donald Trump and those who do his bidding, including the attorney general, the good news is that we're seeing a multiracial coalition of people…

Staff (2020-07-29). In Portland, Getting Out of Jail Requires Relinquishing Constitutional Rights. truthout.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. | "Defendant may not attend any other protests, rallies, assemblies or public gathering in the state of Oregon," states one "Order Setting Conditions of Release" for an accused protester, alongside oth…

Lee Siu Hin, Immigrant Solidarity Network (2020-07-29). Thursday 8/6: 8/6 5-7PM PST Please Join Our D2K LA 2000 – 20th Anniversary Zoom Webinar. indybay.org 8/6 5-7PM PST Please Join Our D2K LA 2000 – 20th Anniversary Zoom Webinar | Time: August 6th Thursday at 5-7 PM PST. | Zoom Webinar Registration: us04web.zoom.us/meeting/register/upwrcOmrrjkjGt3I5EpvVOBEXwgErDneL6Yt | August 2000 will be the 20th anniversary of the D2K LA 2000, a week-long moralization that shocked the country: DNC LA, march to Staples Center, The Rage concert, the convergent center at the MacAuthor Park, the LA Independent Media Center at the Patriotic Hall, Mumia march, direct action at the Rampart Police Station, midnight special law collective, jail solidarity action in front of the T…

Andrea Germanos, staff writer (2020-07-28). Majority of Americans Back Black Lives Matter Protests and Think Demonstrations Will Help Racial Justice: Poll. commondreams.org A new Gallup survey shows that 65% of U.S. adults support the protests. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/public-support-black-lives-matter-protests.jpg

Monica Moorehead (2020-07-28). Athletes continue to build broad support for BLM. workers.org U.S. athletes continue to express their solidarity with Black Lives Matter protests around the country, as professional sports attempt to resume some kind of normalcy since totally shutting down in mid-March due to the COVID-19 crisis. For instance, the Women's National Basketball Association voted to dedicate its entire season to . . . |

Tim Libretti (2020-07-28). Black Lives Matter and the working-class struggle against genocide. peoplesworld.org As many have pointed out, making Black lives matter is a precursor to making all lives matter. To make all lives matter, we have to address the ways certain lives, particularly those of people of color and working-class people in the United States, have been devalued. Put another way, we can't create a culture and …

RT (2020-07-28). Tommy Robinson flees UK with family after claims of 'arson' attack on wife's property. rt.com Anti-Islam activist and ex-English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson says he's trying to permanently relocate his family outside of the UK because "they're not safe." It follows an alleged arson attack on his wife's property. | In a video posted on social media on Tuesday, the controversial right-wing activist insisted that he knows who the perpetrators are, and believes that it "wasn't Muslims" but that it may be people linked to the Black Lives Matter movement. | Robinson, 37, claimed that he had a video evidence of the arson attack, saying they upped and left the UK because his wife had "had enough of ev…

2020-07-30: News Headlines

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

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.

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.

Staff (2020-07-29). AG Bill Barr Grilled by House Lawmakers on Protest Crackdown, Voter Suppression & Pandemic Failures. democracynow.org We play highlights from Attorney General William Barr's grilling by the House Judiciary Committee over how he sent militarized federal forces to confront Black Lives Matter protesters, and his opposition to voting by mail, and get response from a close friend of Congressmember John Lewis who is now running for Senate. "In spite of the machinations of Donald Trump and those who do his bidding, including the attorney general, the good news is that we're seeing a multiracial coalition of people pouring out into American streets," responds Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, "saying that we're concerned about the soul of our d…

Staff (2020-07-29). Civil Rights Icon Bernard Lafayette on His Friend John Lewis, Freedom Rides & Practicing Nonviolence. democracynow.org We revisit civil rights leader and Congressmember John Lewis's early years of activism with Bernard Lafayette, one of Lewis's closest friends and collaborators. Lafayette participated with Lewis in the first Freedom Rides of 1961 as they attempted to integrate buses and faced brutal beatings by white mobs, and was a fellow leader in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Lewis "knew how to relate to people who were different from him and who had different orientations, different values, different philosophies, and that's why he was such a great leader," Lafayette says. "He found a way to make a way."

Staff (2020-07-29). Rev. Warnock of Ebenezer Baptist Church on Legacy of John Lewis & Ongoing Fight for Voting Rights. democracynow.org We look at the life and legacy of late civil rights icon and Georgia Congressmember John Lewis, who is being mourned across the U.S. and who became the first Black politician to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. "The irony of this moment is that even as we celebrate and honor John Lewis, the patron saint of voting rights, he hailed from the state which in many instances is ground zero for voter suppression," says Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, who serves as senior pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, was with Lewis in the final days of his life and will preside over his memorial service. "In recen…

Jim McMahan (2020-07-29). Seattle protest in solidarity with Portland. workers.org On July 25, 2,000 youthful anti-racists marched here in solidarity with Portland resistance. As in Portland, Ore., federal repressive forces have been sent to Seattle. The march was called by the Youth Liberation Front. Chanting "Black Lives Matter," the demonstrators headed to the site of a new youth jail. Located . . . |

Terrea Mitchell (2020-07-29). Sixth annual Sandra Bland #Say Her Name protest in New York City. workers.org A spirited group of about 100 protesters gathered July 13 in Union Square in New York City to demand justice for Black Lives Matter activist Sandra Bland and all Black womxn, girls and femmes. The People's Power Assemblies NYC were the main organizers of the 6th annual Sandra Bland #SayHerName . . . |

Nick Pemberton (2020-07-29). Black Lives Matter and the Nuclear Family. counterpunch.org "We make our spaces family-friendly and enable parents to fully participate with their children. We dismantle the patriarchal practice that requires mothers to work "double shifts" so that they can mother in private even as they participate in public justice work. We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended

Judy Greenspan (2020-07-29). Racist guards attack Soledad prisoners. workers.org In a 3 a.m. raid July 20, approximately 200 Black prisoners at California's Soledad state prison were violently taken from their cells with nothing on but their boxer shorts. The men were herded into the chow hall, handcuffed with zip ties and forced to sit shoulder-to-shoulder without masks for hours, . . . |

Betsey Piette (2020-07-29). Unions call for 'Strike for Black Lives'. workers.org On July 20, unions led protests under the general banner "Strike for Black Lives" in over 160 U.S. cities, with tens of thousands participating. The call, initiated by Service Employees (SEIU), was endorsed by over 60 unions and social justice groups. Many of those participating in the protests were essential . . . |

RT (2020-07-29). White BLM activist tells black doctor at center of Covid-19 controversy: 'I'm more black than you on the inside'. rt.com Dr Stella Immanuel has enough skepticism to deal with regarding her controversial medical theories, but in the eyes of at least one Black Lives Matter activist, even her blackness is something to be challenged. | "You're not black on the inside, I'm more black than you on the inside," a masked white man yelled at Immanuel yesterday on the steps the Supreme Court in Washington, where she was part of a group of doctors staging a press conference to promote the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as a coronavirus cure. The man added that Immanuel was "betraying Black Lives Matter" and that "there were people during t…

RT (2020-07-29). Zuckerberg admits Facebook suppresses 'hate speech' BEFORE it's seen by anyone. rt.com Facebook censors almost 90 percent of 'hate speech' before it's allowed to circulate, CEO Mark Zuckerberg told Congress at Wednesday's Big Tech hearing, responding to pressure from Democrats to submit to the advertiser boycott. | "We're able to proactively identify 89 percent of the hate speech that we take down before, I think, it's even seen by other people," Zuckerberg told the Antitrust Subcommittee of the US House of Representatives on Wednesday. | The statement was in response to Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) pressuring Facebook to "join the civil rights movement" by submitting to the demands of the Sto…

Kanya Bennett (2020-07-29). Communities Deserve Better Than Bayonets and Grenade Launchers: The Defense 1033 Program Must End Now. aclu.org Police

Nicole Zayas Fortier (2020-07-29). Prosecutors Disappoint During the Pandemic. aclu.org From the outset of the COVID-19 crisis, it was clear that the impact on people living and working in jails and prisons was potentially catastrophic. Advocates, including the

Michael Winship (2020-07-29). "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Picks on Portland to Pick Up Votes. commondreams.org A crowd of about 1,500 protesters gather at the Multnomah County Justice center for a Black Lives Matter march on July 20, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. Monday night marked 54 days of protests in the city. (Photo: Nathan Howard/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/gettyimages-12277186951.jpg

Sarah Anderson (2020-07-29). Workers Need the Right to Sue. progressive.org Republicans want to give corporate CEOs a five-year "get out of jail free card" for jeopardizing the health and safety of their workers while threatening the overall economic recovery.

WSWS (2020-07-29). French state sues mayor for linking police repression to pro-Nazi Vichy regime. wsws.org The lawsuit against Colombes Mayor Patrick Chaimovitch tramples on historical truth and basic democratic rights.

commondreams (2020-07-29). Environment America Joins Lawsuit Challenging NEPA Rollback. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Association of American Physicians and Surgeon (2020-07-29). American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) Sues the FDA to End Its Arbitrary Restrictions on Hydroxychloroquine. globalresearch.ca Today, June 2, 2020, the Association of American Physicians & Surgeons (AAPS) filed a lawsuit, AAPS v. FDA, against the Food and Drug Administration to end its arbitrary interference with the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), which

Jason Mark (2020-07-29). It's Time to Bring the Carbon Barons to Justice—and Take Their Money. thenation.com It's Time to Bring the Carbon Barons to Justice—and Take Their Money…

WSWS (2020-07-29). McCarthyite witch-hunt over alleged anti-Semitism explodes in British Labour Party. wsws.org Political opposition to the criminal suppression of the Palestinians by Israel is being officially recast as a form of anti-Semitism, slandering and virtually outlawing a vast swathe of left-wing opinion.

_____ (2020-07-29). Calls For Video Related To John Neville's Death Persist. popularresistance.org Protesters made new demands of Forsyth County elected officials Tuesday, calling for a general increase in transparency from county leaders, and specifically, the release of video pertaining to the death of an inmate at the Forsyth County Detention Center. | "We're fighting for truth, justice, dignity, humanity, economic justice, social justice," said Tony Ndege, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Winston-Salem. "We stand against state violence, but we also stand for social and economic justice." | Demonstrations began in Winston-Salem weeks ago and groups like Black Lives Matter Winston-Salem say they plan to cont…

_____ (2020-07-29). Preparing For A November Surprise. popularresistance.org Nationwide protests against police brutality following George Floyd's murder are the broadest and most persistent in US history. They have laid bare the racism that pervades American society—and demonstrated the willingness of Americans to take to the streets and resist oppression, even in the midst of a pandemic. Americans must continue demanding an end to white supremacy and follow the lead of Black organizers to galvanize a similar flexing of civic muscle to help ensure democratic continuity come November. With elections four months away and the rule of law under steady attack, people power could prove d…

Staff (2020-07-29). Bill Barr Grilled by House Lawmakers on Protest Crackdown and Voter Suppression. truthout.org We play highlights from Attorney General William Barr's grilling by the House Judiciary Committee over how he sent militarized federal forces to confront Black Lives Matter protesters, and his opposition to voting by mail, and get response from a close friend of Congressmember John Lewis who is now running for Senate. "In spite of the machinations of Donald Trump and those who do his bidding, including the attorney general, the good news is that we're seeing a multiracial coalition of people…

Staff (2020-07-29). In Portland, Getting Out of Jail Requires Relinquishing Constitutional Rights. truthout.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. | "Defendant may not attend any other protests, rallies, assemblies or public gathering in the state of Oregon," states one "Order Setting Conditions of Release" for an accused protester, alongside oth…

Lee Siu Hin, Immigrant Solidarity Network (2020-07-29). Thursday 8/6: 8/6 5-7PM PST Please Join Our D2K LA 2000 – 20th Anniversary Zoom Webinar. indybay.org 8/6 5-7PM PST Please Join Our D2K LA 2000 – 20th Anniversary Zoom Webinar | Time: August 6th Thursday at 5-7 PM PST. | Zoom Webinar Registration: us04web.zoom.us/meeting/register/upwrcOmrrjkjGt3I5EpvVOBEXwgErDneL6Yt | August 2000 will be the 20th anniversary of the D2K LA 2000, a week-long moralization that shocked the country: DNC LA, march to Staples Center, The Rage concert, the convergent center at the MacAuthor Park, the LA Independent Media Center at the Patriotic Hall, Mumia march, direct action at the Rampart Police Station, midnight special law collective, jail solidarity action in front of the T…

Andrea Germanos, staff writer (2020-07-28). Majority of Americans Back Black Lives Matter Protests and Think Demonstrations Will Help Racial Justice: Poll. commondreams.org A new Gallup survey shows that 65% of U.S. adults support the protests. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/public-support-black-lives-matter-protests.jpg

Monica Moorehead (2020-07-28). Athletes continue to build broad support for BLM. workers.org U.S. athletes continue to express their solidarity with Black Lives Matter protests around the country, as professional sports attempt to resume some kind of normalcy since totally shutting down in mid-March due to the COVID-19 crisis. For instance, the Women's National Basketball Association voted to dedicate its entire season to . . . |

Tim Libretti (2020-07-28). Black Lives Matter and the working-class struggle against genocide. peoplesworld.org As many have pointed out, making Black lives matter is a precursor to making all lives matter. To make all lives matter, we have to address the ways certain lives, particularly those of people of color and working-class people in the United States, have been devalued. Put another way, we can't create a culture and …

RT (2020-07-28). Tommy Robinson flees UK with family after claims of 'arson' attack on wife's property. rt.com Anti-Islam activist and ex-English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson says he's trying to permanently relocate his family outside of the UK because "they're not safe." It follows an alleged arson attack on his wife's property. | In a video posted on social media on Tuesday, the controversial right-wing activist insisted that he knows who the perpetrators are, and believes that it "wasn't Muslims" but that it may be people linked to the Black Lives Matter movement. | Robinson, 37, claimed that he had a video evidence of the arson attack, saying they upped and left the UK because his wife had "had enough of ev…

RT (2020-07-28). Taliban to begin 3-day Afghanistan ceasefire on Friday for Eid al-Adha holiday — spokesman. rt.com Afghanistan's Taliban announced on Tuesday that the movement will observe a three-day ceasefire in the country for the Muslim occasion of Eid al-Adha, starting Friday. | "In order for our people to spend the three days of Eid in confidence and happiness, all fighters are instructed not to carry out any operations," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted. | He said, however, that if Taliban fighters come under attack from government forces, they will retaliate, Reuters reports. Violence in Afghanistan has increased over recent weeks as the prisoner exchange between the Afghan government and Taliban has st…

Eoin Higgins, staff writer (2020-07-28). In Light of Supreme Court Ruling, ACLU Says Trump's Latest Move to Undermine DACA 'Patently Illegal'. commondreams.org "There is absolutely no reason for this," said immigration rights activist Erika Andiola. "Nothing. Not a legal reason. Not a political reason. Just hate." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1221069325.jpg

Susan N. Herman (2020-07-28). How I Finally Met John Lewis. aclu.org The first time I didn't meet John Lewis was at a 2010 gala dinner celebrating the 90th anniversary of the ACLU of Massachusetts. , , As President of the ACLU, I had been invited to present a civil liberties award to Lewis, who had agreed to accept the award and give the keynote address. On the train to Boston for the dinner, I received an email from the affiliate's executive director, Carol Rose, telling me that Lewis would not be able to attend the dinner after all and asking if I would deliver the keynote speech instead. , , It was easy enough for me to choose a subject: John Lewis, whose reason for not atte…

Sarah Lahm (2020-07-28). Midwest Dispatch: A Much-Needed Civil Rights Road Trip. progressive.org From John Lewis to the current Black Lives Matter protesters, history is alive and a constant reminder of the price of freedom.

commondreams (2020-07-28). 155 Civil Rights Organizations Urge Immediate Congressional Action on Voting Rights. commondreams.org ______________________________…

yenisafak (2020-07-28). Re-globalization is hallmark of post-COVID-19 world: Spanish FM. yenisafak.com Turkey and Spain have decided to extend their Alliance of Civilization agenda for further 15 years to address issues like xenophobia and discrimination in societies.At the end of her first visit outside the European Union (EU) after the COVID-19 lockdown, Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya told Anadolu Agency in an exclusive conversation in Ankara that both countries have agreed to invest a little bit more in redefining a positive agenda of Alliance of Civilization for the next 15 years and diversify it further to combat extremism.In the wake of tragic events of 9/11 both countries had set up the agen…

sputniknews (2020-07-28). Barr's Denial of Police Violence, 'Systemic Racism' Highlights Presence of US Authoritarianism. sputniknews.com The United States' top cop denied US police have a problem with either racism or violence during congressional testimony on Tuesday. One civil rights lawyer told Sputnik the data shows a different story, driving more and more demonstrators into the streets.

Lee Siu Hin, Immigrant Solidarity Network (2020-07-28). 8/6 5-7PM PST Please Join Our D2K LA 2000 – 20th Anniversary Zoom Webinar. indybay.org 8/6 5-7PM PST Please Join Our D2K LA 2000 – 20th Anniversary Zoom Webinar | Time: August 6th Thursday at 5-7 PM PST. | Zoom Webinar Registration: us04web.zoom.us/meeting/register/upwrcOmrrjkjGt3I5EpvVOBEXwgErDneL6Yt | August 2000 will be the 20th anniversary of the D2K LA 2000, a week-long moralization that shocked the country: DNC LA, march to Staples Center, The Rage concert, the convergent center at the MacAuthor Park, the LA Independent Media Center at the Patriotic Hall, Mumia march, direct action at the Rampart Police Station, midnight special law collective, jail solidarity action in front of the T…

Staff (2020-07-27). "Don't Simply Yoke Him to Dr. King": Eddie Glaude on How Radical Student Activism Shaped John Lewis. democracynow.org Memorials for John Lewis, the civil rights icon and 17-term congressmember, are highlighting the bravery he and others showed in the face of police violence as they fought for the right to vote. We highlight the radical early years of Lewis, when he was chairperson of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. His political upbringing as a youth and student organizer and "the movement that he came out of" can't be ignored, says Princeton professor Eddie Glaude. It's important that people "don't simply yoke him to Dr. King, [and] understand him as a product of this student activism." Glaude is chair of Princet…

Staff (2020-07-27). Seattle & Portland Activists: Protest Federal and City Police Crackdowns & Keep Focus on BLM Agenda. democracynow.org As nationwide protests against systemic racism and police violence stretch into their second month, President Trump has sent a team of federal agents to Seattle, following a controversial deployment of federal forces in Portland, Oregon. "We don't know exactly what the federal officers are doing. What we do know is we are in a situation where local police are welcoming those federal agents into our city," says Seattle community organizer Nikkita Oliver, co-executive director of Creative Justice. We also speak with Pastor E.D. Mondainé, president of the Portland, Oregon, branch of the NAACP.

Josue De Luna Navarro (2020-07-27). Need Money for the Green New Deal? Take It From ICE. counterpunch.org The climate crisis is perhaps the greatest challenge humanity is facing. Yes, it threatens everyone's existence. But in particular, it exacerbates the centuries-long systemic oppression plaguing so many communities. The scientific consensus tells us we have 10 years to transform our fossil-fueled, extractive economy into a regenerative one. This isn't so much a technological challenge

ACLU (2020-07-27). 10×10: Join THE FIGHT. aclu.org 1. We are facing an unprecedented health crisis as COVID-19 continues to impact communities around the world. While the pandemic shouldn't be a…

ACLU Analytics (2020-07-27). Decarceration and Crime During COVID-19. aclu.org COVID-19 presents an enormous risk to those in carceral facilities and their surrounding communities. Since the pandemic began, more than 50,000 people in prison have tested positive for the coronavirus, and over 600 have died. These infections and deaths were largely preventable, as we demonstrated in April by working with academic partners to build an

Eds. (2020-07-27). Where do we go from here: A fundraiser for Black Lives. mronline.org A recording of our panel discussion on the Black Lives Matter movement. Featuring Elizabeth Hinton, Robin D. G. Kelley, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, Brandon M. Terry, and Cornel West.

Juan Lopez (2020-07-27). Trump threatens democracy with militarized police as polls suggest he's in trouble. peoplesworld.org By sending federal militarized units in fascist-like fashion into major cities to attack peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstrators, President Donald Trump is assaulting democracy and setting a dangerous precedent less than 100 days before the November elections. Clearly, it is a desperate move to shore up his far-right base and divert public attention away from …

Shawn Fremstad (2020-07-27). The Black and White Disability Gap Widens With Age. counterpunch.org With the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) happening this weekend as Black Lives Matter protests continue, it's a good time to look at the intersection between race and disability in the United States. The figure below compares disability rates by age, sex, and race for non-Latinx adults. The data in the

David Bacon (2020-07-27). San Quentin vigil says incarceration has become a death sentence. peoplesworld.org On Sunday, July 19, about a hundred people gathered at the gate of San Quentin State Prison in San Rafael, to call for the release of prisoners because of the terrifying spread of COVID-19 inside the facility. On May 30th the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation transferred 121 prisoners from the California Institution for …

Nick Pemberton (2020-07-27). Police Are The Real Cancel Culture. counterpunch.org You can jail a Revolutionary, but you can't jail the Revolution. —Fred Hampton As much as academics, celebrities, friends or anti-capitalists may fret about being deplatformed in various ways — what about activists and unhoused people deplatformed of their presence and existence by curfews and cops' repression? —Tranquil Enes "getting canceled is what happend to

commondreams (2020-07-27). Civil Rights Groups Ask Appellate Court to Reject Renewed Palestine Censorship Efforts by Fordham University. commondreams.org ______________________________…