(2021-04-21). A century of oppression: The Kurds and the Turkish state. greenleft.org.au John Tully looks at the history of repressive, and at times genocidal, anti-Kurdish policies that go back to the foundation of the Turkish Republic.
(2021-04-20). Chauvin jury deliberates; world waits to see whether justice will prevail. peoplesworld.org 
MINNEAPOLIS—On Monday evening, a jury of 12 Hennepin County residents began their deliberations as to Derek Chauvin's future. Will it be years in prison, or will he leave the courtroom a free person acquitted of the charges? It is nearly incomprehensible to think any jury would not find Chauvin guilty for the murder of George …
(2021-04-20). Minneapolis jury finds ex-cop Derek Chauvin GUILTY on ALL CHARGES in death of George Floyd. rt.com 
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of killing George Floyd, an African-American man whose death touched off Black Lives Matter protests and riots across the US in 2020. | Chauvin was charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter after Floyd died on May 25, during an attempt by six officers to arrest him for allegedly passing a counterfeit bill at a Minneapolis grocery store. | The jury found him guilty on all three counts on Tuesday afternoon. | Following the verdict, Chauvin's bail was revoked and he was ordered back to jail.
(2021-04-20). Jurors Deliberate in Derek Chauvin Trial as Prosecution Urges Them to "Believe What They Had Seen" democracynow.org 
As jury deliberations are underway in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter for killing George Floyd last May, we go to Minneapolis to discuss final arguments and what is next in the case. We speak with civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong, who says the prosecution "started strong and ended strong" by reminding "the jury that they could believe what they had seen with their own eyes."
(2021-04-20). HFPA, group behind Golden Globes, denounces ex-president for reportedly sending email equating BLM to Manson cult. rt.com 
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which awards the Golden Globes, has condemned its eight-term president Philip Berk for reportedly circulating an email that accused BLM of racism and compared it to the Manson murders. | According to the Los Angeles Times, Berk sent an email to the association's staff and members on Sunday which contained a post that called Black Lives Matter a "racist hate movement" and described its co-founder Patrisse Cullors as "self-proclaimed 'trained Marxist.'" | The paper said the text in the email appears to have been taken from an article originally published on conservative c…
(2021-04-20). D.C. activists demand Justice for Daunte Wright and three Black men killed in DMV area. liberationnews.org 
The rally, hosted by the Party for Socialism and Liberation called for the jailing of racist killer cops and an end to racist police terror.
(2021-04-20). Principles of radical political economics. mronline.org 
The starting point for radical political economists is agreement on the need to oppose injustice and oppression and the conviction that a theoretical understanding of contemporary societies can contribute to the political movements necessary to address them. | April 20, 2021 | Newswire…
(2021-04-20). Blocked from Civil Dissent, Women in Saudi Arabia are turning to business as 'quiet' Feminist activism. juancole.com 
By Sophie Alkhaled | — Prominent Saudi women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul was released from prison on February 10 2021 after 1,001 days in custody. Al-Hathloul, a leading campaigner for women's rights in Saudi Arabia, had been sentenced to five years and eight months in prison in 2018 for pushing a foreign agenda and using …
(2021-04-20). Military Situation In Afghanistan On April 20, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | On April 19, 28 civilians were freed from Taliban's prison in Mosa Qala district of Helmand province, accoding to the Afghanistan MOD | On April 19, eight police members were killed and three were wounded in a Taliban attack on Zibak district in the Badakhshan province | On April 20, two members of popular forces were killed and several were wounded in a Taliban attack in Ghorian district | On April 19, Ata Jan Haqbayan, the head of the provincial council in Zabul…
(2021-04-20). I'm A Multicultural Teen Trying To Fit Into Our 'Melting Pot' — OpEd. eurasiareview.com Reading the latest news, I remain silent and unsurprised as my dumbfounded friends, teachers and primarily white family members gasp. | "Two Asian Women Beaten and Robbed in San Francisco." "8 Dead in Atlanta Spa Shootings, With Fears of Anti-Asian Bias." "Spit On, Yelled At, Attacked: Chinese-Americans Fear for Their Safety." | While COVID-19 has escalated discrimination against Asians, Asian-hate is not new to me, and it is especially not new in America. But in the wake of the recent Asian-hate crimes, I can't stop thinking about the children of the victims — many of whom are multiracial, born in Ameri…
(2021-04-20). The Public Should Have Access to the Surveillance Court's Opinions. aclu.org For decades, a special court—the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, or "FISC"—has issued secret legal opinions authorizing the U.S. government to conduct sweeping programs of electronic surveillance. These opinions have had a profound impact on Americans' rights to privacy, free expression, and free association. But many of them are entirely hidden from public view. | Secret law undermines democracy and the legitimacy of the judicial system—especially when the law being withheld from the public affects the rights of millions of people. So today, the ACLU is asking the Supreme Court to o…
(2021-04-20). Sonoma County's Institutional Responses to the Black Lives Matter Movement. indybay.org This piece is about Sonoma County's educational institution's reponse to the Black Lives Matter movement. It explains the movement and how it has affected a couple of educational institutions in the county. It brings to light what their steps are going forward after the movement's influence.
(2021-04-20). United States: George Floyd's killer found guilty. greenleft.org.au The verdict in the trial of George Floyd's killer has been handed down. Malik Miah looks at the trial, the Black Lives Matter movement and the changes needed to policing in the United States.
(2021-04-20). Civil rights groups urge Biden administration to cancel $50,000 in student debt per borrower. nationofchange.org "The $1.7 trillion student loan crisis is crushing individuals, families, and our economy, and the weight of this burden is disproportionately borne by women and Black and Latino borrowers."
(2021-04-20). Proportion Of Black Physicians In US Has Changed Little In 120 Years. eurasiareview.com A new UCLA study finds that the proportion of physicians who are Black in the U.S. has increased by only 4 percentage points over the past 120 years, and that the share of doctors who are Black men remains unchanged since 1940. | The research also spotlights a significant income gap between white and Black male physicians — a disparity, the researcher writes, that could reflect a combination of pay discrimination and unequal access for physicians to pursue careers in more lucrative specialties. The paper will be published in the peer-reviewed Journal of General Internal Medicine. | "These findings demonstrate…
(2021-04-20). BREAKING: Mumia Abu-Jamal is out of surgery! indybay.org Tuesday April 20 morning update: We just heard from the medical attorneys that Mumia is recovering well from the surgery. Mumia is getting minimal oxygen and one IV which is a good sign. We have not yet heard from Mumia but we expect he will be able to call his family today. We need to see him, hear from him, and know that he has the proper rehabilitation plan. Mumia's wife Wadiya says "I won't know he is ok until i hear from him directly."
(2021-04-20). United Nations: Shackling of aged inmate, Mumia Abu-Jamal, is deplorable. indybay.org "The use of shackles during his hospital stays is deplorable, and causes Mr. Abu-Jamal additional and unnecessary suffering," said the experts. "International standards on the treatment of prisoners clearly stipulate that instruments of restraint are to be imposed only when no lesser form of control would be effective to address the risks posed by unrestricted movement."
(2021-04-19). The Weekly Round-Up: are immigrants and asylum seekers getting their day in court? ukhumanrightsblog.com 
In the news: The rights of immigrants and asylum seekers have been at the forefront of the news this week, with the Home Secretary coming under fire both in the courts and in the political arena. On Wednesday, a landmark court ruling held Ms Patel accountable for failures properly to investigate deaths among asylum seekers at detention …
(2021-04-19). 'I'd love to see her resign': Detroit police chief blasts Rashida Tlaib's 'anti-police rhetoric'. rt.com 
Detroit Police Chief James Craig has blasted Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan) for calling policing "inherently and intentionally racist," saying he hopes the lawmaker resigns. | "She's reckless," Craig told Fox 2 Detroit about Tlaib. "I'd love to see her resign. I'd throw her a goodbye party." | In the wake of the death of Daunte Wright after a traffic stop in Minnesota, Tlaib, a member of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's 'Squad,' called for an end to "policing, incarceration, and militarization." She also called policing "inherently and intentionally racist." | It wasn't an accident. Policing in our country is inher…
(2021-04-19). Cancel it: Biden pressured to eliminate $50,000 student debt per borrower. peoplesworld.org 
President Joe Biden is under mounting pressure to address the rapidly growing student debt crisis by canceling up to $50,000 in crushing individual student loans. A growing chorus of elected officials and advocates say Biden can cancel the debt through executive action. Also, 415 community, civil rights, climate, health, consumer, labor, food and farm, and …
(2021-04-19). Send your message today: Communicating despite the jailer — Letters to our prisoners in occupation's jails. samidoun.net 
"Our prison was at the end of the citadel behind the ramparts. Looking through the crevices between the palisade in the hope of seeing something, one sees nothing but a little corner of the sky, and a high earthwork, covered with the long grass of the steppe. Night and day sentries walk to and fro upon it. Then one perceives from the first, that whole years will pass during which one will see by the same crevices between the palisades, upon the same earthwork, always the same sentinels and the same little corner of the sky, not just above the prison, but far and far away." — The House of the Dead, F.M. Dosto…
(2021-04-19). In Toulouse, a Palestine Stand for the freedom of Palestinian prisoners. samidoun.net 
The following report is largely translated from the French at Collectif Palestine Vaincra: On Saturday, 17 April, Palestinian Prisoners' Day, the Collectif Palestine Vaincra organized a Palestine stand near the exit of the Jean Jaurès metro station in Toulouse, France. This event took place as part of the International Week of Action for Palestinian Prisoners, organized by Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network. For over two hours, the Collectif organized an information booth, distributed hundreds of leaflets on Palestinian prisoners, discussed with passers-by, played Palestinian music and presented sev…
(2021-04-19). Samidoun marks Prisoners' Day in occupied Palestine. samidoun.net 
Samidoun Network in occupied Palestine organized two events on 17 April and 18 April in support of Palestinian prisoners. On Saturday, 17 April — Palestinian Prisoners' Day — Samidoun joined together with the youth committee in Beit Ummar, al-Khalil, occupied Palestine, to visit with prisoners' families and extend support and collective commitment to see all 4,500 Palestinian prisoners liberated from Israeli occupation prisons. That evening, following Taraweeh prayers, night prayers performed during Ramadan, Samidoun activists, family members of prisoners and youth in Al-Arroub refugee camp near al-Kh…
(2021-04-19). March in Berlin and actions throughout Germany take to the streets for Palestinian Prisoners' Day. samidoun.net 
On 17 April, an enthusiastic march for Palestinian Prisoners' Day wound through Neukà∂lln, Berlin, Germany, organized by Samidoun Deutschland in partnership with several organizations, including Palà§stina Spricht Palestine Speaks, FOR-Palestine, Young Struggle Europe, Volksrat der Eelam Tamilen — Deutschland e.V., und Netzwerk Freiheit fàºr alle politischen Gefangenen. Marking Palestinian Prisoners' Day, the march progressed from Rathaus Neukà∂lln to Hermannplatz, marching through Sonnenallee, home to many Palestinian and Arab restaurants and businesses in Berlin. The march was enthusias…
(2021-04-19). Cities Drop Most Charges Against BLM Protesters as Cops Fail to Provide Evidence. truthout.org 
At least 90 percent of charges against Black Lives Matter protesters in a dozen jurisdictions have been dropped, dismissed or not filed, according to In Houston and Los Angeles, The Guardian found, 93 percent of charges were either dropped or…
(2021-04-19). 'My Pillow Guy' ramps up crusade against 'election fraud' with new lawsuit against Dominion, launching new social platform. rt.com 
Trump superfan and pillow-peddling conservative Mike Lindell has launched a new social media platform to coincide with a $1.6 billion lawsuit he's filing against Dominion Voting Systems, which he blames for Trump's election loss. | Lindell launched his social media site FrankSpeech.com on Monday, the anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord, the first two engagements of the Revolutionary War in 1775. The website itself was represented as a strike-back against Big Tech's domination of the internet, which has solidified in the last several months as social media booted hundreds of thousands of pro-Tru…
(2021-04-19). Texas police arrest ex-deputy over fatal triple shooting, ending search for suspect. rt.com 
A former deputy sheriff has been arrested over a triple shooting in Austin, Texas at the weekend, a local police chief has said. Officers had launched a manhunt for the suspected shooter, following Sunday's killings. | Stephen Broderick, 41, was carrying a pistol as he was detained on a rural road in the Austin suburb of Manor early on Monday morning, Manor Police Chief Ryan Phipps said. | Officers had received two phone calls about a possible sighting of Broderick, who has now been taken to Travis County jail. | Three people were confirmed dead in a shooting in the Arboretum area of northwest Austin on Sunday…
(2021-04-19). Critics, including CNN, attack Chauvin defense for 'reasonable police officer' argument. rt.com 
The prosecution and defense lawyers have made their closing arguments in the trial of former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin, with his legal team earning ridicule online for their "reasonable police officer" argument. | Chauvin's trial has gripped the attention of activists in Minnesota, the state where the late George Floyd died in the custody of Chauvin, kicking off Black Lives Matter protests across the country. Tensions have heated up amid the ongoing Chauvin trial and the recent police-shooting death of Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center, which is near Minneapolis. | In their closing arguments on Monday, Chau…
(2021-04-19). Sunday 4/25: Enough is Enough! Community March & Rally for Black Lives in San Jose. indybay.org Downtown San Jose: Meet up at Plaza De Cesar Chavez, 1 Paseo De San Antonio, then March to San Jose City Hall, 200 200 E. Santa Clara Street for Rally | Masks and Social Distancing Required; Peaceful Protest…
(2021-04-19). Rights experts condemn UK racism report attempting to 'normalize white supremacy'. news.un.org UN independent human rights experts on Monday denounced a government-backed report into racism in the United Kingdom, saying that it further distorted and falsified historical facts, and could even fuel racism and racial discrimination.
(2021-04-19). Rights experts condemn UK report attempting to 'normalize white supremacy'. news.un.org UN independent human rights experts on Monday denounced a government-backed report into racism in the United Kingdom, saying that it further distorted and falsified historic facts, and could even fuel racism and racial discrimination.
(2021-04-19). Critics Warn Lawsuits by EU Fossil Fuel Giants Steal Billions From Public, Undermine Green Transition. commondreams.org "We don't only need to phase out coal and fossil fuels," said Sandra Beckerman, member of the Dutch Parliament. "We need to phase out the power that these companies… have over our governments." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/rwe.jpg …
(2021-04-19). Vigil held in Tallahassee, FL for victims of Atlanta shooting. fightbacknews.org Tallahassee, FL – On April 17, around 50 people from the Tallahassee community gathered at the Florida State University's HCB Building to commemorate the eight victims from the recent Atlanta shooting and speak out on Asian American oppression. | The Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC), along with various other local Asian American organizations such as InterVarsity, FSU's Asian American Student Union, Asian Coalition of Tallahassee, and FSU's Filipino Student Association spoke out at the event. | Co-organizer Tina Lu, representing InterVarsity, stated "we wanted to organize this event so that Asian Ame…
(2021-04-19). Webinar calls for Abdullah àñcalan to be freed. greenleft.org.au Groups involved in the international campaign to free Abdullah àñcalan from a Turkish prison discussed plans to involve more community organisations. Peter Boyle reports.
(2021-04-19). Serco denies breaching health and safety duty to employee killed by prisoner. thecanary.co Lawyers acting for the security company, which is currently courting controversy for its running of the
(2021-04-19). Video: MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell Pranked by Caller Pretending to Be Trump. sputniknews.com The MyPillow head and one of the previous US president's fiercest supporters, Mike Lindell, was permanently banned on Twitter for posts supporting Trump's claims of "fraudulent elections." Lindell later said he would create his own social media platform to counter what he claimed was mainstream media censorship and suppression of his free speech.