2018-09-17: News Headlines

FHRII (2018-09-17). Activists Arrested After Mass Strike In Iran's Kurdistan Province Against "Revenge" Executions. iranian.com After a mass strike by Kurdish merchants in western Iran on September 12, 2018, Iranian security forces arrested several civil rights activists in the region, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) has learned. The strikers closed their shops in protest against recent executions of Kurdish prisoners and Iran's missile attack on Kurdish dissidents in Northern Iraq. "I […]

Telesur (2018-09-17). US Holding Nearly 13,000 Migrant Children in Detention Centers. globalresearch.ca Note to readers: please click the share buttons above. Forward this article to your email lists. Crosspost on your blog site, internet forums. etc. | A recently published report shows the number of detained migrant children is almost five times greater …

Gwendolyn Smith, The New Civil Rights Movement (2018-09-16). Kavanaugh Accuser Goes Public With Her Story. alternet.org Christine Blasey Ford claimed Bret Kavanaugh assaulted her when she was 17. | The woman who accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of assault has gone public, detailing what happened to her in high school in the early 1980s in an exposé in Gwendolyn Smith, The New Civil Rights Movement (2018-09-16). FEMA Head Blames Hurricane Deaths in Puerto Rico on 'Spousal Abuse'. alternet.org Brock Long appeared to try and give cover to Donald Trump. | Brock Long, the administrator of FEMA, echoed Trump's statements disputing the death toll in Puerto Rico last year on Meet The Press today, going so far as to claim some of the hurricane-related deaths may be incidents of "spousal abuse. "Long was being interviewed in large part over FEMA efforts with Hurricane Florence, but the topic shifted to Hurricane Maria and President Trump's accusations that the 2,975 de. . .

Juliana Bolden (2018-09-16). Statement: Kavanaugh Allegations Impact Character and Fitness to Serve on Supreme Court. naacp.org Washington, D.C. — NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson issued the following statement on the recent allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh: "For far too long we've seen the majority leadership in Congress pander to the dangerous decisions of the Trump Administration, and the recent allegations against Brett Kavanaugh have only confirmed that enough […]

Shared by Anton Woronczuk (2018-09-16). Fighting to End the Other Death Sentence: Life Without Parole. truthout.org When incarcerated people in 17 states initiated a 19-day prison strike last month, one of their The Lady Lifers at SCI Muncy sing, "This Is Not My Home" at TEDx in 2014.Courtesy of Ellen Melchiondo and Naomi Blount | It also means an end to the harsh sentencing practice known as life without the possibility of parole (LWOP). In an August 26 interview with MSNBC, formerly incarcerated activist Darren Mack described LWOP as "death by incarceration," explaining, "You will not leave prison until you die." | Noted political scientist and author Marie Gottschalk has called life…

Vanessa Mbonu@naacpnet (2018-09-15). NAACP Provides Disaster Management Resources in the Wake of Hurricane Florence. naacp.org NAACP, the nation's foremost civil rights organization, released the following statement regarding Hurricane Florence: "On Friday, Hurricane Florence, deemed by meteorologists to be a beast of a storm, made landfall in North Carolina, and it has already proved to be fatal," said Jacqui Patterson, Senior Director, NAACP Environmental Climate and Justice Program. "Although […]

aclu (2018-09-14). Trump's Border Wall Obsession Is a Threat to the Southwest Border Region. aclu.org To save lives, preserve habitats, and ensure thriving border communities, Congress should stop funding President Trump's border wall. | Given all the false rhetoric and rage that drive President Trump's fixation on building his border wall, it's critically important to step back from that noise and think about people and places that would be jeopardized if his wall obsession continues to be funded by Congress. | Take, for instance, aclu (2018-09-14). 'Attica Is Every Prison; and Every Prison Is Attica'. aclu.org Forty-seven years later, the uprising that shocked the world continues through the demands of prisoners for human rights. | On Sept. 9, 1971, prisoners at Attica Correctional Facility in upstate New York rebelled over extreme crowding, racism, and brutal living conditions. They took control of the prison and sought to negotiate with state officials over their demands. Four days later — and 47 years ago this week — the uprising was crushed in a massive assault by the state police, National Guard, and corrections officers. Forty-three people lost their lives, most of them during the retaking of the pris…

aclu (2018-09-14). Off-Duty Cop Tasing an 11-Year-Old Should Provoke a Clear Wakeup Call for Police Reform. aclu.org The brutal use of force against an 11-year-old Cincinnati girl reveals how desperately we need to stop police brutality. | How young is too young for a person to be tased? In Cincinnati, the answer disturbingly seems to be 7 years old. This is as shocking as it is unacceptable. | The city is purportedly reviewing its policy on the use of force, s…

aclu (2018-09-14). Trump's New Attack on Immigrant Children. aclu.org The government has proposed new regulations which are a roadmap for keeping immigrant children and families locked up indefinitely. | Last Thursday, two federal agencies announced new regulations concerning the detention of immigrant children. They are nothing less than a roadmap for keeping children and families locked up indefinitely. | The proposed regulations have a very clear goal, which is to terminate a longstanding federal consent decree — known as the Flores Settlement Agreement — that sets nationwide…

splcenter (2018-09-14). SPLC joins Alabama civil rights groups in urging Sens. Jones and Shelby to vote against Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination. splcenter.org The SPLC is among 10 Alabama civil rights organizations that strongly urged U.S. Sens. Richard Shelby and Doug Jones today to vote against the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Juliana Bolden (2018-09-14). NAACP's Marvin Owens to Talk Economics, Environmental Justice at CBC. naacp.org NAACP Senior Director of Economic Programs Marvin Owens to Discuss Intersection of Economics and Environmental Justice during Congressional Black Caucus Braintrust Washington, D.C. — NAACP Senior Director of Economic Programs Marvin Owens will discuss the intersection of economics and environmental justice during the 48th Annual Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference. The Environmental Justice Braintrust will focus on […]

aclu (2018-09-13). A Second Chance for Separated Families. aclu.org The Trump administration agrees to allow separated families to apply for asylum under proper procedures. | The fight over the asylum rights of families who had been separated by the Trump administration took what could be a critical turn late last night. Following weeks of negotiation, parties in three lawsuits — including the ACLU's class-action lawsuit, which first blocked the family separation policy and forced the government to reunite families — brokered an agreeme…

aclu (2018-09-13). A Smith College Employee Called the Police on Me for Eating Lunch While Black. aclu.org A student opens up about experiencing racial profiling at Smith College and what she expects Smith to do to address it. | Enrolling in Smith College a year ago was a dream come true. But rarely has a dream so swiftly turned into a nightmare. As I begin my sophomore year, I'm returning to a new slate of classes and to unsettling memories that I wish I could shake., , This summer, I was racially profiled — an all-too-common experience for Black people in America. But unlike most people who are targeted for simply existing in their skin, my story of harassment went viral. | It happened on July 31, when I was w…

Juliana Bolden (2018-09-13). GC Brad Berry to Discuss Admin's Assault on Education, NAACP Lawsuit Against Betsy DeVos at CBC Education Event. naacp.org NAACP's General Counsel Brad Berry to Discuss Combating the Administration's Assault on Education and NAACP Lawsuit Against Betsy DeVos During Congressional Black Caucus Education Event Washington, D.C. —In June, the NAACP filed a lawsuit against Betsy DeVos and the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) for abandoning without public notice its obligation to […]

Juliana Bolden (2018-09-13). NAACP President Derrick Johnson to Join CBC Panels, Workshops on Voting and Activism. naacp.org Originally published: 9-12-2017 Updated: 9-13-2018 ___ NAACP President Derrick Johnson to Join Congressional Black Caucus Panels and Workshops on Voting, Activism, and State Of Black America Washington, D.C. — The president of the nation's foremost civil rights organization, Derrick Johnson will join Congressional Black Caucus leaders, esteemed civil rights leaders, influencers and advocates at the 48th Annual […]

Vanessa Mbonu@naacpnet (2018-09-13). NAACP Launches Power of 5 Campaign, Mobilizes Voter to Take Action Before the Election. naacp.org The NAACP, the nation's foremost civil rights organization, has launched a Power of 5 campaign aimed at mobilizing voters to turn out at the 2018 midterm elections. The Power of 5 campaign charges voters to take leadership of their own spheres of influence. The charge is simple: register 5 new voters before the deadline, ensure 5 people get […]

Juliana Bolden (2018-09-13). Action Alert: Urge Senate Judiciary Committee Members to Vote "No" on Kavanaugh on Sept. 20th. naacp.org Senate Judiciary Committee Moves Committee Vote on Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh to Sept. 20, 2018 Urge Members of the Senate Judiciary to Vote "No" on Kavanaugh The Issue: On July 10, 2018, President Trump nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. After four days of hearings which began on Sept. 4, we […]

Juliana Bolden (2018-09-13). D.C. Bureau Director Hilary O. Shelton to Discuss Fixing the Broken Criminal Justice System at CBC. naacp.org NAACP's D.C. Bureau Director Hilary O. Shelton to discuss: What is Real Justice Reform? Congressional Black Caucus Braintrust examines how to fix the broken criminal justice system. WASHINGTON, DC (September 13, 2018) — NAACP Washington Bureau Director & Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Policy Hilary Shelton will discuss the Associations role in Federal criminal justice […]

Vanessa Mbonu@naacpnet (2018-09-13). NAACP President Derrick Johnson Offers Hope, Encourages Black Voters to Know their Power During CBC Panel. naacp.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 13, 2018 CONTACT: NAACP@sunshinesachs.com | WASHINGTON (September 13, 2018) — NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson provided the following commentary at a Congressional Black Caucus panel on the status of minority voting rights in the nation: "As we look forward, we need to offer an opportunity to control the narrative and […]

aclu (2018-09-12). It's Time to Close a Loophole in the Constitution's Double Jeopardy Rule. aclu.org State and federal prosecutors should not be permitted to prosecute someone twice for the same offense. | The Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment states that no one can be tried more than once for the same crime. The clause is designed to protect people from the danger of multiple prosecutions by overzealous prosecutors. Yet, since 1922, the Supreme Court has undermined this clause with an exception that allows state and federal prosecutors to bring separate charges for the same alleged crime. As a result, people can be prosecuted twice for the same offense — so long as the prosecutors are from sep…

aclu (2018-09-12). A Missouri Town Will Finally Stop Banishing Residents for Reporting Domestic Violence. aclu.org In a sweeping settlement, the city of Maplewood has agreed to overhaul an ordinance that discourages crime victims from coming forward. | In cities across America, calling 911 can get you evicted. This week, a city less than 10 miles outside of St. Louis agreed to stop enforcing this inhumane policy as part of an extensive settlement. | Last year, we filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Rosetta Watson, a domestic violence survivor who was kicked out of her home and city because…

aclu (2018-09-12). Louisiana Mayor Caves on Attempted Ban of Nike Products. aclu.org The city of Kenner's policy of preventing booster clubs from buying or accepting delivery of Nike products is unconstitutional. | UPDATE: On Wednesday, Mayor E. "Ben" Zahn III rescinded his policy barring the city of Kenner's booster clubs from buying or accepting delivery of Nike products at the city's recreation facilities. | The mayor of Kenner, Louisiana, doesn't seem to like Colin Kaepernick much. He also doesn't seem too happy that the sports merchandise juggernaut Nike made Kaepernick the face of its new "Dream Crazy" campaign. But instead of simply expressing his personal opinion, he's trying t…

Democracy Now! (2018-09-12). Headlines for September 12, 2018. democracynow.org "Storm of a Lifetime": Hurricane Florence Barrels Down on Carolinas' Coast, Ahead of Florence, SC Officials Say They Will Not Evacuate Ridgeland Prison, Florence Threatens Catastrophic Waste Spills from Pig Farms, Coal Ash Ponds, 6 Years Before Florence, North Carolina Passed Law Banning Studies of Sea Level Rise, Ahead of Florence, Trump Tries to Celebrate Admin Response to Hurricane Maria, Merkley: Trump Admin Diverted $10M from FEMA to ICE to Build Detention Centers, HHS to Triple Size of Texas Tent Camp for Migrant Children, Stephen Miller's Former Rabbi Slams Him at Rosh Hashanah Services over Family Separat…

aclu (2018-09-11). Trump Administration Threatens International Criminal Court Judges and Prosecutors for Doing Their Jobs. aclu.org John Bolton's threats against ICC judges and prosecutors give solace and comfort to war criminals. | In an unprecedented attack on one of the most important judicial bodies in the world, National Security Advisor John Bolton on Monday threatened to sanction the International Criminal Court and its staff if the court approves a full investigation into U.S. torture in Afghanistan. The U.S. is not a member of the court, but it has supported the court's efforts to hold perpetrators of war crimes accountable — as long as those efforts don't involve U.S. or close allies. | In a Democracy Now! (2018-09-07). Headlines for September 7, 2018. democracynow.org Sen. Cory Booker Releases Kavanaugh Documents in Act of "Civil Disobedience", New Documents Contradict Kavanaugh's Sworn Testimony, Kavanaugh Conflates Birth Control with Abortion, Trump Admin Seeks to Allow Indefinite Detention of Immigrant Families, ICE, DOJ Subpoena Millions of North Carolina Voting Records, Top Trump Admin Officials Deny They Penned Scathing Anonymous Op-Ed, Baghdad Massacre Trial for Blackwater Mercenary Ends in Hung Jury, Gunman Kills Three at Cincinnati Bank, Then Shot Dead by Police, Cincinnati Officer Who Tased 11-Year-Old Girl Will Face Discipline, Jury Gives $1 Fine to Man Who Punched…

Democracy Now! (2018-09-07). As 400+ Children Remain Separated from Parents, Trump Admin Wants to Detain Kids Indefinitely. democracynow.org The Trump administration is attempting to remove court-imposed time limits on the detention of immigrant children. The administration's proposal would allow immigrant families to be held in detention indefinitely, ending the long-standing 1997 Flores agreement which says that children cannot be jailed for more than 20 days. More than 400 children remain separated from their parents more than a month after a court-imposed deadline requiring the Trump administration to reunite all of the separated families. The American Civil Liberties Union says it appears ICE officials had access to the phone numbers of hundreds…

Democracy Now! (2018-09-04). "What Are They Hiding?": Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearings Begin Despite Suppression of 100K Documents. democracynow.org Confirmation hearings begin for Judge Brett Kavanaugh to fill Justice Anthony Kennedy's seat on the Supreme Court. If he is confirmed, it would likely make the court the most conservative since the 1930s. Kavanaugh is 53 years old and could serve on the Supreme Court for decades to come. Critics warn his confirmation could lead to major rollbacks of civil rights, environmental regulations, gun control measures, voting rights and reproductive rights, including possibly overturning Roe v. Wade. We speak with Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Last…

Sarah Jaffe (2018-08-29). The Movement Against Prison Abuse—From the Inside. progressive.org Janos Marton of the ACLU's Smart Justice program talks about a growing public awareness of the rampant inequality perpetuated by prisons, jails, arrests, and prosecutions, and what people on the outside can do.