(2018-10-22). Trump Admin Attempts to Erase Existence of Trans People After Years of GOP-Led Attacks on Freedoms. democracynow.org 
The New York Times reports that the Trump administration is attempting to eliminate the rights of transgender people by creating a narrow legal definition of gender. Citing a government memo, the Times reveals that the Department of Health and Human Services has undertaken an effort across several government agencies to establish a legal definition of sex under Title IX, the federal civil rights law that bans discrimination on the basis of sex. That definition would be either male or female, unchangeable, and determined by the genitals a person is born with. The Times reports that the memo says, "Sex means a pers…
(2018-10-22). KKK leader David Duke endorses Brazil's Bolsonaro. peoplesworld.org 
Former Ku Klux Klan (KKK) leader David Duke has endorsed far-right Brazilian presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro, saying the former army captain "sounds like one of us." Support from the prominent racist, who also supported Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign, is the latest warning sign of the nature of Bolsonaro's candidacy. Many have raised …
(2018-10-22). NAACP Pennsylvania Focuses on Getting Out the Vote at State Convention. naacp.org 
The Pennsylvania State Conference kicked off its 84th annual convention in Bethlehem, PA on Friday, October 25 2018. The weekend of events brought together NAACP members, supporter and friends in an effort to encourage active NAACP branches state-wide to take part in sessions conducted by NAACP national staff members and community leaders. No matter […]
(2018-10-22). Mississippi Sentences Man to Eight Years in Prison for Medical Marijuana He Purchased Legally in Another State. aclu.org A Black man's harsh eight-year prison sentence for drug possession in Mississippi shows the dire need for drug law reform. | Patrick Beadle, a 46-year-old father and musician, received an eight-year prison sentence in Mississippi for possessing 2.89 pounds of marijuana. If his sentence stands, he would spend nearly a decade behind bars for possessing a substance that is legal in nine states and now all of Canada. Such a severe, inhumane sentence speaks volumes about the inanity and heartlessness of our criminal…
(2018-10-22). Court Tells Georgia It Can't Charge People to Read the Law. aclu.org The law doesn't belong to the state — it belongs to the people, and the government can't copyright it. | In a victory for the people of Georgia, a federal appeals court ruled on Friday that the state can no longer charge individuals hundreds of dollars to see the laws that govern them. | To get there, the court relied on a central tenet of American democracy: The government works on behalf of the public. | Quoting the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit wrote, "The…
(2018-10-22). Neoliberalism in the Age of Pedagogical Terrorism. counterpunch.org 
While the call to resist neoliberal fascism is to be welcomed, it has to be interrogated rather than aligned with individuals and ideological forces that helped put in place the racist, economic, religious, and educational forces that helped produce it. What many liberals and conservative calls to resistance have in common is an opposition to Trump rather than to the conditions that created him. More
(2018-10-22). Ecuador: Transgender Rights Coalition Decries Lynching of Trans Woman. telesurtv.net Despite the passing of a unique constitution in 2008 that granted trans people various fundamental rights, they still face stigma and discrimination.
(2018-10-22). Detroit's reality: Infant corpses found piled up in funeral home. wsws.org Police raids following an anonymous tip and a lawsuit have uncovered dozens of fetuses, several children's bodies and hundreds of containers of human remains.
(2018-10-22). How Republicans Steal Elections. indybay.org Republicans repreeent less than 1/4 of the voter registrations in the US. Democrats have the most, followed by Independents. The plutocracy Republican party has a variety of ways it cheats. Greg Palast has filed | federal lawsuits in October against the 3 Secretaries of State (Kemp in Georgia, Husted in Ohio, Kobach in Kansas) who are both umpires and players, supervising their own | elections.
(2018-10-22). SPLC statement on Trump administration's efforts to remove civil rights protections from transgender Americans. splcenter.org The Trump administration has apparently redoubled its efforts to exclude transgender Americans from the protection of federal civil rights laws.
(2018-10-22). New York's Metropolitan Republican Club hosts leader of fascistic street gang. wsws.org This event exposes the close ties between a faction of the Republican Party and the political gutter of open racists, bigots and the "alt-right."
(2018-10-22). Lawsuit Over Whales, Sea Turtles Entangled in California Crab Gear Advances. indybay.org Motion Seeks to Hold State Officials Liable for Deaths of Endangered Marine Animals…
(2018-10-22). Anti-Muslim Campaign Rhetoric Climbs to Previously Unseen Heights. truthdig.com Emboldened by President Donald Trump's speeches and anti-Muslim legislation, candidates across the country have openly incorporated Islamophobic claims into their campaigns leading up to the midterm elections. The rise, according to a new report from Muslim Advocates, is dramatic, and, as The Guardian reports, the campaigns are using "tactics that echo attempts to inflame fears around immigrants and people of color." | The report examined 80 campaigns around the U.S. that have used some kind of anti-Muslim rhet…
(2018-10-22). The Trump Administration Is Trying to Erase Trans People, but the Law Clearly Protects Them. aclu.org A recently leaked memo is attempting to undermine decades of court decisions saying federal law protects transgender and nonbinary people. | Over the weekend, The New York Times revealed that officials within the Trump administration are pushing for a definition of the term "sex" in federal civil rights laws that would eliminate non-discrimination protections for transgender people. Transgender people and their families understandably panicked at that news. | The reality, though, is that transgender pe…
(2018-10-22). Chief Injustice John Roberts, Advocate Of Torture, War, Execution, Racist Gerrymandering. indybay.org The United States in 1789 led the world in democracy. Now the first has become the last | among those claiming to be democracies.
(2018-10-21). WATCH NOW: Pastor Jamal Bryant Teams Up With NAACP to Rally the Vote. naacp.org As the midterm elections rapidly approach, NAACP and Pastor Jamal Bryant team up to deliver a special message to voters. Watch below! Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant — Vote! Our Lives Depend On It. from NAACP Hollywood Bureau on Vimeo.
(2018-10-20). Nauru expels another doctor amid growing protests over Australia's refugee detention centres. wsws.org International rights organisations and thousands of doctors have condemned the persecution of refugees.
(2018-10-19). WATCH NOW: Bow Wow, Lil Mama, Jhonni Blaze and More Team Up With NAACP to Turnout the Vote. naacp.org As part of NAACP's partnership with WEtv, the cast of Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta came together to release a PSA urging viewers to vote in this year's midterm elections.
(2018-10-19). Identity Crisis: Elizabeth Warren's Claims Cherokee Heritage. counterpunch.org 
Elizabeth Warren recently released DNA results as evidence she has a Native American ancestor. Trump, meanwhile, has been referring to Warren as "Pocahontas" to ridicule that claim. The two show useful examples of different kinds of racism. Trump's racism is obvious. He's using the name Pocahontas as a racial slur. He means to target Warren, More
(2018-10-19). ICYMI: NAACP Town Hall Galvanizes Thousands. naacp.org NAACP hosted a national tele townhall on Thursday, October 18th at 9 pm as it rallies to turnout Black voters for the midterm elections. With less than three weeks until election day, this townhall — the second in a series of GOTV calls — focused on two critical issues facing the Black community as they cast their votes on November 6: […]
(2018-10-19). Ohio: If You Don't Vote, They Will. naacp.org In Ohio, If You Don't Vote, They Will Launching anything for the first time is always a challenge of unexpected obstacles, but when the intent of the project is to mobilize an entire community for generations to come, no obstacle will deter the journey. NAACP's civic engagement campaign for the 2018 elections is no different. As incidents of voter suppression and unethical campaign […]
(2018-10-19). It's No Trick — These Virginia Cities Are Criminalizing Halloween. aclu.org Local ordinances are taking all the fun out of Halloween through excessive age and time restrictions. | In Chesapeake, Virginia, trick-or-treaters over 12 years old can be punished for trick-or-treating with a fine of "not less than $25.00 nor more than $100.00 or by confinement in jail for not more than six months or both." The potential penalty for asking for…
(2018-10-19). NAACP Announces Partnership with When We All Vote, National Bar Association, National Action Network, and National Pan-Hellenic Council Organizations. naacp.org 
BALTIMORE (October 19, 2018) — During its board meeting in Baltimore, MD, Leon W. Russell, NAACP Chairman, National Board of Directors, announced a partnership with former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama's organization, When We All Vote. From #NAACP Board Meeting: "When We All Vote is proud to partner with the NAACP […] | The post
(2018-10-19). WATCH NOW: NAACP President Talks the Importance of Data and Targeted Outreach in Turning Out the Black Vote. naacp.org 
NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, appeared on Washington Journal to speak about NAACP's civic engagement plan for the midterm elections and beyond. Speaking to host, Pedro Echevarria and callers across the nation, President Johnson emphasized the importance of a data-centric approach in mobilizing Black voters. Watch the interview on C-SPAN.
(2018-10-19). Don't Board Our Buses Without Probable Cause or a Warrant. aclu.org The president of the Greyhound bus drivers' union urges management to stand up to Trump's deportation machine. | When I first started working at Greyhound 28 years ago, I was told that I would never be able to drive a bus. I'm a woman of color. But I got trained, and I became a bus driver. Soon after, I joined Local 1700 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, and today I am the local's president. | Local 1700 represents 3,500 Greyhound drivers, mechanics, and terminal workers. My job, as the president, is to advocate on behalf of our members for fair pay, safety, and wellbeing. But today, I'm advocating for our custom…
(2018-10-18). Meet Edward Blum, the Man Who Wants to Kill Affirmative Action in Higher Education. aclu.org Activist Edward Blum has been trying to destroy race-conscious college admissions for a long time. | In a federal lawsuit that went to trial this week, the organization Students for Fair Admissions is challenging Harvard University's admissions practices, arguing that the consideration of race in the process violates the Equal Protection Clause. | So what's at stake in this case? A lot. | Just two years ago, in Fisher v. the University of Texas, the Supreme Court reaffirmed that the consideration of race as part of a holistic admissions pr…
(2018-10-18). Louisiana's Infamous Angola Prison Goes on Trial. aclu.org Angola prison is home to horrific constitutional violations that threaten the health and welfare of people incarcerated in the facility. | In November 2012, Shannon Hurd, who was serving a life sentence for stealing $14, began losing weight and experiencing flu-like symptoms. His symptoms worsened, and he developed a pain in his side. But doctors at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as "Angola," repeatedly dismissed his medical complaints. | He did not receive medical care in the weeks that followed. He did not receive medical care in the months that followed. And as he waited for basic medical care, a…
(2018-10-18). Secret Government Report Shows Gaping Holes in Privacy Protections From U.S. Surveillance. aclu.org 
The Trump administration released a report from federal privacy watchdog after the ACLU filed a Freedom of Information Act request. | On Tuesday, in response to Freedom of Information Act requests, a federal privacy watchdog released an important report about how the U.S. government handles people's personal information that it sweeps up in its surveillance. Despite requests from Senator Ron Wyden and the European Union, the Trump administration had refused to make the report public [m…
(2018-10-18). Guilty until proven innocent: Teen girls made boy's life 'unbearable' with false assault allegations. rt.com 
A Pennsylvania school district is facing a lawsuit taken by the family of a former student after he was charged with sexual assault and forced out of the school when a group of girls made false allegations against him.
(2018-10-18). 'Look at this f**king white guy': Man brutally sliced in New York pizza parlor attack. rt.com 
Bronx native Chris Bilcik usually goes to Ray's to sit down and tuck into a delicious slice of pizza, but his visit last week ended with violence, as he was brutally sliced and punched by an apparently racist attacker. |
(2018-10-18). Trump Administration's Warped View of Religious Freedom Abroad. zcomm.org Religious freedom arguments are increasingly being used to challenge anti-discrimination policies and access to services…
(2018-10-18). A Tribute to Ron Dellums, Radical. zcomm.org Ron Dellums fought the good fight. He appreciated the struggle against racism is permanently joined with those against sexism, militarism, and capitalism…
(2018-10-18). In a Case that Rocked Alabama, a Man With Intellectual Disability Is Spared Death. aclu.org Almost a decade after his death sentence, the state agreed Lam Luong could not be executed and joined the defense in asking to change the sentence. | This week, in one of the highest profile cases in Alabama history, longtime ACLU client Lam Luong was resentenced to life in imprisonment without parole, nine years after he was sentenced to death. Luong's life was spared because experts hired by both the state of Alabama and the defense agreed that he met the criteria for intellectual disability. | Luong, born during the Vietnam War to a Vietnamese woman and a Black American serviceman, was convicted and sentenced…
(2018-10-18). SPLC statement on Trump's threat to call up troops and close the southern border. splcenter.org Today's announcement that President Trump might call up federal troops and "close our southern border" to stop immigrants from countries like Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador from entering the U.S. is racist and illegal.
(2018-10-17). In Pennsylvania, We'll Turn Our Anger into Votes. naacp.org In Pennsylvania, a state which shocked the nation in the 2016 Presidential elections, all roads lead to the ballot box on November 6. For Pennsylvanians across the state, this will be an election of the conscience. Many will reckon with the ballots they cast two years ago, while others, spurred by the current state of […]
(2018-10-17). Facebook is sued for 'inflating' ad watch times by up to 900% to lure in advertisers. rt.com 
Facebook hid a flaw in its video-advertising metrics that overestimated viewer engagement for more than a year in an effort to entice and keep advertisers on its platform, according to a lawsuit filed by a group of advertisers.
(2018-10-17). Why Trump's Stormy Daniels Tweet Wasn't Defamation. aclu.org Defamation is hard to prove in the United States — and that's a good thing for political debate. | On Monday, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by Stephanie Clifford, aka Stormy Daniels, against Donald Trump alleging that he defamed her on Twitter. While Trump's bullying and name-calling, particularly targeting women, are abhorrent and vulgar, it's not surprising that Clifford's suit was unsuccessful. Defamation is rela…
(2018-10-17). SPLC sues for records detailing Trump administration plan to arm teachers with guns using federal funds. splcenter.org The Trump administration is withholding records detailing how it has unlawfully permitted the use of federal funds to arm teachers with guns in classrooms across America, according to a lawsuit the SPLC filed today.
(2018-10-17). NAACP to Host National Town Hall on Thursday, October 18. naacp.org 
Tele Townhall to Discuss Education and Economy Concerns Going into Elections FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Vanessa Mbonu/ vmbonu@naacpnet.org BALTIMORE (October 17, 2018) — NAACP will host a national tele townhall on Thursday, October 18th at 9 pm as it rallies to turnout Black voters for the midterm elections. With less than three weeks until election day, this townhall — the […]
(2018-10-17). Ôªø'Let's just ghost him': Alt-right leaders were leery of Jason Kessler before 'Unite the Right.' Text messages show they wanted him out of the movement. splcenter.org The speakers were lined up and the promotions had started for "Unite the Right," the large gathering of racists, white supremacists and alt-righters in Charlottesville, Virginia.
(2018-10-16). Trump insults 'horseface' Stormy Daniels after judge throws out lawsuit. rt.com 
After a federal judge tossed porn star Stormy Daniels' defamation lawsuit against President Trump, the president took to Twitter to gloat, calling Daniels "horseface" and her case against him "a total con." |
(2018-10-15). The GOP's Racist Election Strategy. progressive.org As the 2018 midterm election approaches, the party is no longer making efforts to disguise its appeals to racism.
(2018-10-15). Trump Admin Hints It May Resume Family Separation at Border; ACLU Says "Public Outcry Is Critical" democracynow.org 
The Trump administration is reportedly considering plans to resume its policy of forcibly separating migrant children from their families along the U.S.-Mexico border, even as the full number of people torn apart the last time it carried out the widely condemned practice remains unclear. A new report by Amnesty International suggests immigration officials separated some 6,000 families between April and August, a far higher number of children and parents torn apart than previously thought. Trump administration officials are now considering plans to detain asylum-seeking families together for up to 20 days and then…
(2018-10-11). Dreaming political concepts in Iran and the US: Huey Newton and Ali Shariati, through the movie Black Panther. zcomm.org Dreaming political concepts in Iran and the US: Huey Newton and Ali Shariati, through the movie Black Panther In the movie Black Panther, N'Jobu is residing in Oakland, California as a Wakandan spy when he's troubled by the racism faced by black Americans. T'Chaka, the king of Wakanda, considers N'Jobu's plot of Read more…
(2018-10-09). Brazil's Eroding Democracy: Rise of Far-Right Demagogue Follows Ouster of Dilma & Jailing of Lula. democracynow.org 
In a stunning upset that may radically alter the political landscape of Latin America, far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro won 46 percent of the vote in Sunday's presidential election in Brazil in a far more decisive victory than expected. The former Army officer has a long history of making racist, homophobic and misogynistic comments and has openly praised Brazil's military dictatorship. He will now face Fernando Haddad of the leftist Workers' Party in a runoff on October 28. Haddad won 29 percent of the vote Sunday. Many are warning that the future of democracy in Brazil hangs in the balance. We speak with Maria L…
(2018-10-03). The U.S. Detention of Children Is Only Getting Worse. progressive.org No longer forcibly separating families at the border, the Trump Administration has merely changed the way children are harmed.
(2018-09-05). Censored Documentary Exposes the Israeli Government's Attack on Black Lives Matter. grayzoneproject.com Exclusive footage from the censored Al Jazeera documentary, "The Lobby — USA," shows Israeli government officials taking credit for attacks…
(2018-07-04). The History of Race and Labor in the U.S. zcomm.org Interview on the history of race and racism in the US from African slavery to today…