Author Archives: admin

2019-05-03: Social Media Postees

What Officer Noor's Conviction Says About Racism in America
aclu.org | 2019-05-03
For the first time, Minnesota convicted a police officer for killing someone. That he was Black and the woman he shot was white must not be ignored. | On Tuesday, April 30, a Minnesota jury convicted police officer Mohamed Noor of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for shooting and killing Justine Damond, a white Australian woman. Damond had called 9-1-1 to report a possible sexual assault near her apartment and then approached Noor's squad car when he and his partner responded to the call. Noor killed Damond, and he deserved to be found guilty. His decision to shoot and kill an unarmed person wit…
aclu.org/blog/criminal-law-reform/reforming-police-practices/what-officer-noors-conviction-says-about-racism

New Age of Criminal Justice Calls for a New Kind of District Attorney
Rosemary Rivera | commondreams.org | 2019-05-03
A survey by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) found that 91% of people support criminal justice reform, and a majority of people acknowledge racial bias in the system. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/gettyimages-860971274.jpg
commondreams.org/views/2019/05/03/new-age-criminal-justice-calls-new-kind-district-attorney?cd-origin=rss

Gay and trans workers may soon lose work-place protections
Michelle Zacarias | peoplesworld.org | 2019-05-03
The U.S. Supreme Court will soon determine whether federal employment law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The court agreed to hear three cases involving Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which currently prevents employers from discriminating based on "sex." This decision will have a monumental impact on …
peoplesworld.org/article/gay-and-trans-workers-may-soon-lose-work-place-protections/

Proposed new census question steps up Trump administration's racist attacks on immigrants
Satya Vatti | liberationnews.org | 2019-05-03
Given the track record of the U.S. government, with its racist history of deportations, incarceration and family separations under both the Democratic and Republican parties, the citizenship question on the census is sure to incite anxieties and fear among immigrants who are repeatedly scapegoated by politicians for mass unemployment and poverty that are in fact products of the capitalist economic system.
liberationnews.org/proposed-new-census-question-steps-up-trump-administrations-racist-attacks-on-immigrants/

Climate Change legislation passes the US House
Adam Lee | naacp.org | 2019-05-03
H.R. 9, which was authored by Congresswoman Kathy Castor (FL), who is also the Chairwoman of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, would prohibit the U.S. from withdrawing from the accord and also would require the administration to develop a plan for the U.S. to meet its voluntary commitments under the Paris Agreement. …
naacp.org/latest/climate-change-legislation-passes-us-house/

NAACP Files Suit Challenging Restrictive Tennessee Voter Registration Law
Aba Blankson | naacp.org | 2019-05-03
NASHVILLE, TN — The NAACP, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, pro bono firm Hogan Lovells US LLP, Memphis-based firm Burch, Porter, & Johnson PLLC, Bromberg Law LLC, and community practitioner Daniel Ayoade Yoon filed suit today challenging Tennessee's new third-party registration law. The complaint alleges that the law, which imposes burdensome requirements …
naacp.org/latest/naacp-files-suit-challenging-restrictive-tennessee-voter-registration-law/

Black News Weekly
Vanessa Mbonu@naacpnet | naacp.org | 2019-05-03
BET: Black 22-Year-Old Software Engineer Murdered By White Neighbor Months After Court Denied Request For Protective Order A 22-year-old Baltimore resident was gunned down by his 53-year-old white neighbor just months after trying to obtain a protective order against the man. According to ABC 11, Tyrique Hudson was fatally shot in the stairwell of his apartment complex …
naacp.org/latest/black-news-weekly/

Amid Surprise Jail Closure Announcement, Calls for Alameda Sheriff Accountability Grow
Danny Thongsy | indybay.org | 2019-05-03
Oakland community members demand a financial and performance audit of the Sheriff's office as budget shortfalls, civil lawsuits, and reports of substandard jail conditions continue to mount.
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/05/03/18823122.php

On World Press Freedom Day, 10 Reasons Why Press Freedom Matters
Christian Christensen | commondreams.org | 2019-05-03
Activists wear chains on their wrists as they protest outside the Egyptian Embassy to highlight the plight of jailed Egyptian photojournalist 'Shawkan', on August 14, 2017 in London, England. One photograph was taken for each of the 1,460 days that photographer 'Shawkan', whose real name is Mahmoud Abu Zeid, has spent in jail since being arrested while taking photographs during a military crackdown in 2013. (Photo: Carl Court/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/world_press_freedom_day.png
commondreams.org/views/2019/05/03/world-press-freedom-day-10-reasons-why-press-freedom-matters?cd-origin=rss

San Diego PSL stands with workers everywhere on May Day
Michaela Malone | liberationnews.org | 2019-05-03
Carrying signs printed with the words "Hands Off Venezuela," members of the PSL and the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) also stressed the need for solidarity with working class Venezuelans…
liberationnews.org/san-diego-psl-stands-with-workers-everywhere-on-may-day/

MintCast Episode 2: Failed Coup in Venezuela, Forgotten US Atrocities in the Koreas, and Joe Biden's Race Problem
Alan Macleod | mintpressnews.com | 2019-05-03
MintCast co-hosts Alan MacLeod and Whitney Webb discuss current events in Sri Lanka, France and Venezuela and also delve into U.S. efforts to hide the real history of the Korean War, as well as Joe Biden's history of teaming up with notorious American racists.
mintpressnews.com/mintcast-episode-2-failed-coup-venezuela-forgotten-us-atrocities-koreas-joe-bidens-race-problem/258154/

Explosive new book dissects the soft coup that brought fascism to Brazil
John McEvoy | thecanary.co | 2019-05-03
On 28 October 2018, Brazil elected a fascist, racist, sexist, and homophobic president. And an explosive new book delves into how that happened, providing a crucial point of reference for resistance in the process. | Washingt…
thecanary.co/reviews/2019/05/03/explosive-new-book-dissects-the-soft-coup-that-brought-fascism-to-brazil/

Angry Yemeni shop owners boycott NY Post after attack on Ilhan Omar
Joyce Chediac | liberationnews.org | 2019-05-03
Stand up to Islamophobia and all forms of racism, say with one voice, "We stand with Ilhan."
liberationnews.org/angry-yemeni-shop-owners-boycott-ny-post-after-attack-on-ilhan-omar/

'The Man Who Fell from the Sky', Bill Fletcher Jr.'s new crime novel
Tim Libretti | peoplesworld.org | 2019-05-03
As I was finishing Bill Fletcher Jr.'s debut novel The Man Who Fell from the Sky, the Ralph Northam scandal was unfolding in Virginia, about which Fletcher powerfully weighed in. Northam's apparent participation in a racist episode some thirty years ago, documented in a photograph in his medical school yearbook that had lain dormant and …
peoplesworld.org/article/the-man-who-fell-from-the-sky-bill-fletcher-jr-s-new-crime-novel/

Two Members of Rise Above Movement Plead Guilty in Charlottesville 'Unite the Right' Rioting Case
splcenter.org | 2019-05-03
The leader of the antisemitic and racist Rise Above Movement and a fellow member of the group pleaded guilty Friday to a federal charge of conspiracy to riot.
splcenter.org/hatewatch/2019/05/03/two-members-rise-above-movement-plead-guilty-charlottesville-unite-right-rioting-case

Spanish elections: Important battle won against the right
susan_p | greenleft.org.au | 2019-05-03
The question on everyone's lips in the last week of the Spanish election campaign was just how strongly the filthy brown tide of reaction would run — encapsulated in the vote for the racist, xenophobic, Islamophobic, anti-feminist, pro-gun and, above all, anti-Catalan outfit Vox. | The average of legal polling, allowed by the Central Electoral Board until one week before the vote, had Vox at 11.2%, yielding around 30-35 seats in the 350-seat Congress of Deputies. | However, illegal and internal party polls in the last week of the campaign — or deliberately scary leaks about them — were assigning…
greenleft.org.au/content/spanish-elections-important-battle-won-against-right

Black Women Political Prisoners of the Police State
Linda Ford | dissidentvoice.org | 2019-05-03
The Rev. Joy Powell says she was "raped, railroaded and bamboozled" by police. Her crime? Being a poor black woman who faced off against the police–protesting their violent brutality against black people in Rochester, NY. Once she defied them, she was warned, then targeted and framed for serious crimes. A few weeks ago, Australian Julian …
dissidentvoice.org/2019/05/black-women-political-prisoners-of-the-police-state/

'A Massive Chill On Investigative Journalism': First Hearing In Julian Assange's Extradition Case
Kevin Gosztola | shadowproof.com | 2019-05-03
The first procedural hearing in WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's extradition case was held in the United Kingdom. It was very brief, and Assange appeared via video link from Belmarsh prison. "I do not wish to surrender myself for extradition for doing journalism that has won many, many awards and protected…
shadowproof.com/2019/05/02/massive-chill-investigative-journalism-hearing-assange-extradition/

Trump's "Troika of Tyranny" Meddles in Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua
Staff | truthout.org | 2019-05-03
Under the guise of protecting human rights, the Trump administration is illegally meddling in three countries it has dubbed the "troika of tyranny" — Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua. National Security Adviser John Bolton claimed, "Miami is home to countless Americans, who fled the prisons and death squads of the Castro regime in Cuba, the murderous dictatorships of Chavez and Maduro in Venezuela, and the horrific violence of the 1980s and today und…
truthout.org/articles/trumps-troika-of-tyranny-meddles-in-venezuela-cuba-nicaragua/

Peruvian Ex Military Chief Convicted of Corruption to be Turned in
plenglish.com | 2019-05-03
Lima, May 3 (Prensa Latina) The Peruvian judicial police awaits on Friday for ex army chief and until two days ago conservative lawmaker Edwin Donayre to be handed over to serve five years in prison for corruption.
www.plenglish.com/index.php?o=rn&id=41575&SEO=peruvian-ex-military-chief-convicted-of-corruption-to-be-turned-in

Black Women Political Prisoners of the Police State
Linda G. Ford | counterpunch.org | 2019-05-03
The Rev. Joy Powell says she was "raped, railroaded and bamboozled" by police. Her crime? Being a poor black woman who faced off against the police–protesting their violent brutality against black people in Rochester, NY. Once she defied them, she was warned, then targeted and framed for serious crimes. A few weeks ago, Australian Julian…
counterpunch.org/2019/05/03/black-women-political-prisoners-of-the-police-state/

American Association of Jurists Recognizes Lula as Political Prisoner
plenglish.com | 2019-05-03
Brasilia, May 3 (Prensa Latina) The American Association of Jurists (AAJ) recognized in a statement the ex-Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as a political prisoner and this Friday joins the international campaign for his immediate release.
www.plenglish.com/index.php?o=rn&id=41564&SEO=american-association-of-jurists-recognizes-lula-as-political-prisoner

Protests Planned at Heroes Camp
Santa Cruz News | indybay.org | 2019-05-03
Keith McHenry of Food Not Bombs has announced there will be a protest to oppose the eviction of the homeless residents from the Heroes/Ross Camp in Santa Cruz on Friday, May 3, at 9: 00 am on the San Lorenzo River levee behind the Ross Dress for Less store. The protests were called for following Federal Judge Edward Davila's decision on Monday to dissolve a temporary restraining that had been preventing the City of Santa Cruz from moving forward with their proposed eviction of the homeless encampment. The restraining order was issued shortly after homeless residents of the camp filed a civil rights lawsuit against…
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/05/01/18823070.php

Remembering Folk Icon Pete Seeger on What Would Have Been His 100th Birthday
Staff | truthout.org | 2019-05-03
It was 100 years ago today that the late folk singer and activist Pete Seeger was born. In 2004, Seeger came into our Firehouse studio for an in-depth interview. We play an excerpt to mark his centennial celebration, in which he recalls how he learned about the classic civil rights anthem "We Shall Overcome," that he helped to popularize. Watch the full interview and our full archive of interviews with Seeger. | Transcript: | AMY GOODMAN: We end today's s…
truthout.org/video/remembering-folk-icon-pete-seeger-on-what-would-have-been-his-100th-birthday/

"We Shall Overcome": Remembering Folk Icon Pete Seeger on What Would Have Been His 100th Birthday
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2019-05-03
It was 100 years ago today that the late folk singer and activist Pete Seeger was born. In 2004, Seeger came into our Firehouse studio for an in-depth interview. We play an excerpt to mark his centennial celebration, in which he recalls how he learned about the classic civil rights anthem "We Shall Overcome," that he helped to popularize. Watch the "full interview": www.democracynow.org/2006/7/3/we_shall_overcome_an_hour_with and our "full archive of interviews": www.democracynow.org/appearances/pete_seeger with Seeger.
www.democracynow.org/2019/5/3/we_shall_overcome_remembering_folk_icon

My FOIA Crusade Against a Law-Breaking CIA
Staff | truthdig.com | 2019-05-03
On April 29, my attorney Dan Hardway filed a petition for certiorari asking the Supreme Court to review my case, Morley v. CIA. When I filed this Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit 16 years ago, I sought certain files related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. | The JFK story still resonates, albeit more faintly than it once did. Kennedy was a popular liberal president who, at the time of his death, was challenging the country to embrace civil rights and "a strategy of peace" to end the Cold War. Detested in the…
truthdig.com/articles/my-foia-crusade-against-a-law-breaking-cia/

Migrants, asylum seekers detained in Hungary 'deliberately deprived of food': UN human rights office
United Nations | un.org | 2019-05-03
The UN human rights office (OHCHR) said on Friday it was alarmed by reports that migrants and asylum seekers who are being held in Hungarian detention centres are being "deliberately deprived of food in contravention of international laws and standards".
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/05/1037811

'Sick, Dystopian Stuff': Former Trump Adviser Kelly Joins Board of Company Running Immigrant Detention Centers
Julia Conley, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2019-05-03
In what one critic deemed a "nauseating example of the revolving door" through which powerful political players often move into the private sector, former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly joined the board of a company which owns some of the largest detention centers for unaccompanied children who cross the U.S.-Mexico border. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/33214947080_4b83233483_o11.jpg
commondreams.org/news/2019/05/03/sick-dystopian-stuff-former-trump-adviser-kelly-joins-board-company-running?cd-origin=rss

Venezuela: Lopez Arrest Warrant Issued as Military Show Strength for Maduro
Paul Dobson | globalresearch.ca | 2019-05-03
Venezuela's judicial authorities have issued a new arrest warrant for fugitive opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez following his escape from house arrest early Tuesday morning. | Caracas' Fifth Court revoked Lopez's house arrest Thursday and ordered his immediate detention, indicating that once …
globalresearch.ca/venezuela-lopez-arrest-warrant-military-show-strength-maduro/5676421

Roger Waters on Palestine: "You Have to Stand Up for People's Human Rights All Over the World"
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2019-05-03
After a judge ruled a panel can move forward Saturday at the University of Massachusetts Amherst on "Israel, Free Speech, and the Battle for Palestinian Human Rights," we speak with one of the event's scheduled participants: Roger Waters, co-founder of Pink Floyd, one of the most popular rock bands of all time. He says he welcomes the lawsuit that challenged the event, because "what it does is it serves to shine a light on the predicament of the Palestinian people."
www.democracynow.org/2019/5/3/roger_waters_on_palestine_you_have

Mass. Judge Refuses to Halt Pro-Palestinian Event at UMass Featuring Roger Waters & Linda Sarsour
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2019-05-03
"Not Backing Down: Israel, Free Speech, and the Battle for Palestinian Human Rights." That's the title of an event set to take place Saturday at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. After three anonymous UMass students filed a lawsuit to stop the event, a judge ruled Thursday the event can proceed, saying, "There's nothing that comes even close to a threat of harm or incitement to violence or lawlessness." We get an update from Sut Jhally, event organizer and professor of communication at the University of Massachusetts, and Rachel Weber, attorney and member Jewish Voice for Peace, Western Massachusetts chapt…
www.democracynow.org/2019/5/3/mass_judge_refuses_to_halt_pro

Lawsuit Launched to Protect Sonoma County Residents From Airport Lead Pollution
Center for Biological Diversity | indybay.org | 2019-05-03
SANTA ROSA, Calif., April 30, 2019 — Environmental groups filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for failing to protect northern Sonoma County residents from deadly airborne lead emitted by planes using local airports.
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/05/01/18823064.php

Attorney General Barr Says ICE Has Power to Lock Up Asylum Seekers Without Hearings
aclu.org | 2019-05-02
The Constitution does not allow the government to lock people up without due process of law. | Today the ACLU, the ACLU of Washington, the American Immigration Council, and Northwest Immigrant Rights Project launched a legal challenge to the Trump administration's latest assault on people who have come to the United States to seek refuge from persecution: jailing asylum seekers without even allowing a judge to decide if there's any reaso…
aclu.org/blog/immigrants-rights/immigrants-rights-and-detention/attorney-general-barr-says-ice-has-power-lock

"We Can't Be the Best Students if We're Not Put in the Proper Environment"
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-05-02
Students, parents, and the ACLU and NAACP-LDF are suing Maryland for under-funding Baltimore's majority black school district…
therealnews.com/stories/we-cant-be-the-best-students-if-were-not-put-in-the-proper-environment

Clevelanders horrified by deaths and conditions in county jail
Martha Grevatt | workers.org | 2019-05-02
The Cleveland Plain Dealer released a horrifying video to the public April 25. A guard at the Cuyahoga County jail is seen dragging an inmate, whom he has in a chokehold, from one room to another on Nov. 3. The guard, Christopher Perdue, then slams the inmate, who is not . . . | Continue reading Clevelanders horrified by deaths and conditions in county jail at Workers.org
workers.org/2019/05/02/clevelanders-horrified-by-deaths-and-conditions-in-county-jail/

'If I was black I'd be picking cotton': Student's prom proposal gets him banned (PHOTO)
rt.com | 2019-05-02
An Ohio high school student's racist prom proposal has sparked a backlash after he referenced being black and "picking cotton" to get his date to come to the dance with him. | …
rt.com/usa/458211-prom-invite-racism-ohio/

The racist dawn of capitalism
Eds. | mronline.org | 2019-05-02
The centrality of slavery to capitalism is not new, as any serious student of WEB Dubois is aware. | Source…
mronline.org/2019/05/02/the-racist-dawn-of-capitalism/

Beyond Prisons: Voting Rights feat. Maya Schenwar
Beyond Prisons | shadowproof.com | 2019-05-02
Maya Schenwar returns to Beyond Prisons to discuss voting rights, the current political landscape, and her forthcoming book. | Maya is the Editor-in-Chief of Truthout. She is also the author of "Locked Down, Locked Out: Why Prison Doesn't Work and How We Can Do Better" and the co-editor of the Truthout anthology "Who Do You Serve, Who Do You Protect? Police Violence and Resistance in the United States." She has written about the prison-industrial complex for Truthout, The New York Times, The Guardian, The Nation, Salon, Ms. Magazine, and others. Maya lives in Chicago and organizes with the abolitionist collective…
shadowproof.com/2019/05/02/beyond-prisons-voting-rights-feat-maya-schenwar/

Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange Vows To Fight Charges At First Extradition Hearing
ZeroHedge | mintpressnews.com | 2019-05-02
During the first hearing in what's expected to be a protracted legal battle over the US's extradition request, Wikileaks' founder Julian Assange told a British judge that he wished to fight extradition, and the hearing was concluded with the next court date set for May 30. | Assange, whom the US has charged with conspiring with Chelsea Manning to break into a government computer, a charge that carries a maximum prison term of 5.5 years, appeared on screen wearing a sports jacket. He wasn't handcuffed. And when asked if he would consent to surrender to the US, he replied that he did not wish to do so, according to…
mintpressnews.com/wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-vows-fight-charges-first-extradition-hearing/258124/

SPLC: Facebook and Instagram ban far-right and extremist figures, but still have more work to do against hateful content
Keegan Hankes, Researcher, Intelligence Project | splcenter.org | 2019-05-02
Facebook and Instagram announced today that they have banned several far-right, antisemitic and extremist figures and organizations for being "dangerous," a sign that they are more aggressively enforcing their hate speech policies under pressure from civil rights organizations, including the SPLC.
splcenter.org/news/2019/05/02/splc-facebook-and-instagram-ban-far-right-and-extremist-figures-still-have-more-work-do

Finding Common Ground on Repealing the Death Penalty
aclu.org | 2019-05-01
How ending capital punishment transcends the political divide. | What do Michael Bloomberg and Oliver North have in common? How about Michelle Malkin and Kim Kardashian West, or Ron Paul and Bernie Sanders? They may not share much turf when it comes to their political or social views, but they do all agree on one point that may surprise you. | They all oppose the death penalty. | Support for repealing the death penalty is diverse, it is growing, and it is bipartisan in nature. The brokenness of the death penalty system, long documented in local headlines and the cases they highlight, has hit a turning point with…
aclu.org/blog/capital-punishment/finding-common-ground-repealing-death-penalty

NAACP Statement on William Barr Testimony
Vanessa Mbonu@naacpnet | naacp.org | 2019-05-01
The NAACP, the nation's foremost civil rights organization, released the following statement in response to Attorney General William Barr's testimony today: "Attorney General William Barr is unfit to serve. We opposed his confirmation because we believed he could not serve independently and would protect Donald Trump at all costs. Since taking office, Mr. Barr has demonstrated …
naacp.org/latest/naacp-statement-william-barr-testimony/

NAACP OPPOSES TRUMP JUDICIAL NOMINEE ANDREW BRASHER FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
Adam Lee | naacp.org | 2019-05-01
President Trump has nominated Andrew Brasher to serve on the Federal Court for the Middle District of Alabama, and the full Senate is expected to vote on the nomination as soon as the middle of this week. The NAACP is strongly opposed to this nomination. Put simply, Mr. Brasher has demonstrated that he would put …
naacp.org/latest/naacp-opposes-trump-judicial-nominee-andrew-brasher-middle-district-alabama/

Hands Off Ilhan Omar: Angela Davis & Black Women Leaders Defend Congresswoman from Right-Wing Attacks
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2019-05-01
African-American women leaders gathered on Capitol Hill Tuesday in defense of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, one of the first two Muslim congresswomen in history and the first member of Congress to wear a hijab. Omar has been the target of numerous right-wing attacks since taking office, including by President Donald Trump himself. Omar says death threats against her have spiked in number since President Trump tweeted a video juxtaposing her image with footage of the 9/11 attacks. Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib, civil rights icon Angela Davis and others addressed the crowd Tuesday to urge Congress to…
www.democracynow.org/2019/5/1/hands_off_ilhan_omar_angela_davis

There's a Battle Brewing at Google Over Employee Speech. The Outcome Affects Us All
aclu.org | 2019-04-30
Retaliating against Big Tech employees who push their employers to do the right thing is a threat to us all. | The outcome of a battle heating up at Google over the limits of employee free speech will have huge consequences for all of us. Will Google shut down internal dissent and silence whistleblowers? Or will the company live up to its initial motto, "Don't be evil?" | In 2017, researchers Meredith Whittaker and Kate Crawford founded the AI Now Institute at New York University, with the goal of "produc[ing] interdisciplinary research on the social implication…
aclu.org/blog/free-speech/employee-speech-and-whistleblowers/theres-battle-brewing-google-over-employee

We Got U.S. Border Officials to Testify Under Oath. Here's What We Found Out
aclu.org | 2019-04-30
ICE and CBP allow unfettered, warrantless searches of travelers' digital devices, and empower officers to dodge the Fourth Amendment | In September 2017, we, along with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, sued the federal government for its warrantless and suspicionless searches of phones and laptops at airports and other U.S. ports of entry. | The government immediately tried to dismiss our case, arguing that t…
aclu.org/blog/privacy-technology/privacy-borders-and-checkpoints/we-got-us-border-officials-testify-under

With U.S. Support, Venezuelan Opposition Launch a Coup in Latest Attempt to Oust Maduro
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2019-04-30
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó says a coup is underway in Caracas. Guaidó appeared this morning, in a video posted online, standing among heavily armed soldiers, proclaiming he is "starting the final phase of Operation Liberty." He appeared alongside formerly jailed opposition leader Leopoldo López, who said he'd been freed from house arrest by military officers loyal to the opposition. Venezuela's defense minister said the government of Nicolás Maduro remains in control and that military units reported "normality" at barracks and bases across Venezuela. We speak to attorney Eva Golinger, who who served…
www.democracynow.org/2019/4/30/with_us_support_venezuelan_opposition_launch

Long Beach, CA rally stands against far right
Ernesto Huerta | liberationnews.org | 2019-04-30
"We have the power, as people, to stop racists from organizing and having a platform."
liberationnews.org/long-beach-ca-rally-stands-against-far-right/

Seeking Justice at Home
Michelle Chen | progressive.org | 2019-04-30
Virginia juvenile justice advocates envision a correctional system not about police and prisons but about stability, families, and a continuum of care.
progressive.org/dispatches/seeking-justice-at-home-chen-190430/

Angela Davis: I Would Like to Accept Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Award After BDS Controversy
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2019-04-30
In February, Angela Davis returned to her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. She originally planned the visit to receive the Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, but the institute withdrew the award in January, soon after the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center sent a letter urging the board to reconsider honoring Davis due to her support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement targeting the Israeli government and Israeli institutions. Facing swift and widespread outcry, the institute then reversed its decision and reinstated the award. While Angela Davis…
www.democracynow.org/2019/4/30/angela_davis_i_would_like_to

2019-05-01: News Headlines

teleSUR (2019-05-01). Israeli Official Slams Bernie Sanders For Calling PM 'Racist'. telesurenglish.net An Israeli cabinet minister condemned U.S. Democratic Party presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders on Tuesday for describing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government as racist over its treatment of Palestinians. | RELATED: | Biden Campaign Use Dirty Trick to Steal Donations from Sanders | Sanders, who previously stated that he is "100 percent pro-Israel" attacked Netanyahu after he was reelected to the premiership. | "The goal must be to try to bring people together and n…

Editor (2019-05-01). El humo, los espejos y el viejo juego de conchas. workers.org La política capitalista ha sido durante mucho tiempo un juego de conchas. Mientras que a las masas se les dice que acudan a las elecciones para abordar sus innumerables reclamos: los verdaderos problemas de la pobreza, el racismo, la falta de empleos permanentes bien remunerados y la atención médica asequible, . . . | Continue reading El humo, los espejos y el viejo juego de conchas at Workers.org

Fight Back (2019-05-01). May Day 2019: Build the fight to defeat Trump and the 1%. fightbacknews.org May 1, International Workers Day, is a celebration of the heroic struggle for a better world waged by workers and oppressed people around the world. Monopoly capitalism is the system we fight against. This system is everywhere, from our low wages and the lack of affordable health care, to racist and bigoted laws, to the neverending war and oppression felt around the globe. | Monopoly capitalism is a doomed system that is destined to give way to socialism, a system that puts working people before profits. The road to revolution and socialism grows shorter as workers and oppressed people gather together and organiz…

Adam Lee (2019-05-01). NAACP OPPOSES TRUMP JUDICIAL NOMINEE ANDREW BRASHER FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA. naacp.org President Trump has nominated Andrew Brasher to serve on the Federal Court for the Middle District of Alabama, and the full Senate is expected to vote on the nomination as soon as the middle of this week. The NAACP is strongly opposed to this nomination. Put simply, Mr. Brasher has demonstrated that he would put …

teleSUR (2019-05-01). Julian Assange Sentenced To 50 Weeks In Prison For Bail Breach. telesurenglish.net Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been sentenced by a London court on Wednesday to 50 weeks in jail for skipping bail. | RELATED: | Assange's Defense File Complaint on Ecuadorean Diplomats for Espionage | According to the Reuters News Agency, Assange violated the terms of his bail to enter the Ecuadorean embassy almost seven years ago. He was dragged out of the embassy last month and charged by the United States for one of the biggest ever leaks of classified informa…

Elijah J. Magnier (2019-05-01). Iran Rejects All Negotiations but Signals Domestic Differences: Its Confidence Remains Intact in the Face of Severe Sanctions. globalresearch.ca Despite the positive approach by Iran Foreign Minister Jawad Zarif proposing a humanitarian exchange of prisoners between Washington and Tehran (in an attempt to break the stalemate and ease the current tension), Iranian Speaker Ali Larijani and 'Iranian Revolutionary Guard …

Ernesto Huerta (2019-04-30). Long Beach, CA rally stands against far right. liberationnews.org "We have the power, as people, to stop racists from organizing and having a platform."

splcenter (2019-04-30). Court certifies class action in lawsuit on behalf of children detained by Trump administration. splcenter.org A federal court certified as a class action an SPLC lawsuit challenging the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement's (ORR) policies and practices regarding the release of unaccompanied minors and the reunification of immigrant families — a ruling with the potential to help end the prolonged detention of immigrant children across the United States.

Maj. Danny Sjursen (2019-04-30). The United States of Incarceration. truthdig.com This piece originally appeared in anti-war.com. | You've got to give it to the Defense Department — they're assiduous planners. I know: I used to be one. So the latest news that the DOD is preparing its 40 remaining forever prisoners at the extralegal detention center of Guantanamo Bay for nursing home and hospice care, should come as little surprise. It still shocks the senses a bit, though, doesn…

Democracy Now! (2019-04-30). Angela Davis: I Would Like to Accept Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Award After BDS Controversy. democracynow.org In February, Angela Davis returned to her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. She originally planned the visit to receive the Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, but the institute withdrew the award in January, soon after the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center sent a letter urging the board to reconsider honoring Davis due to her support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement targeting the Israeli government and Israeli institutions. Facing swift and widespread outcry, the institute then reversed its decision and reinstated the award. While Angela Davis…

Democracy Now! (2019-04-30). Angela Davis & Barbara Ransby: We Stand with Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Courageous, Bold Black Woman. democracynow.org Two of the founders of Black Lives Matter, as well as professor Angela Davis and scores of other black women, are holding a rally today on Capitol Hill to defend Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and to urge Congress to censure President Trump for his attacks on her. Omar made history earlier this year when she and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan became the first Muslim women in Congress. She is also the first member of Congress to wear a hijab. Omar, who was born in Somalia and came to the United States as a refugee, has been at the center of numerous right-wing attacks since taking office. Omar recently said deat…

ACLU (2019-04-30). We Got U.S. Border Officials to Testify Under Oath. Here's What We Found Out. aclu.org ICE and CBP allow unfettered, warrantless searches of travelers' digital devices, and empower officers to dodge the Fourth Amendment | In September 2017, we, along with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, sued the federal government for its warrantless and suspicionless searches of phones and laptops at airports and other U.S. ports of entry. | The government immediately tried to dismiss our case, arguing that t…

ACLU (2019-04-30). There's a Battle Brewing at Google Over Employee Speech. The Outcome Affects Us All. aclu.org Retaliating against Big Tech employees who push their employers to do the right thing is a threat to us all. | The outcome of a battle heating up at Google over the limits of employee free speech will have huge consequences for all of us. Will Google shut down internal dissent and silence whistleblowers? Or will the company live up to its initial motto, "Don't be evil?" | In 2017, researchers Meredith Whittaker and Kate Crawford founded the AI Now Institute at New York University, with the goal of "produc[ing] interdisciplinary research on the social implication…

Eoin Higgins, staff writer (2019-04-30). New Report Names Nearly 4,000 Companies Profiting Off of Private Prison Industry. commondreams.org "Today, more than half of the $80 billion spent annually on incarceration by government agencies is used to pay the thousands of vendors that serve the criminal legal system." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/prison_industry.jpg

Democracy Now! (2019-04-30). With U.S. Support, Venezuelan Opposition Launch a Coup in Latest Attempt to Oust Maduro. democracynow.org Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó says a coup is underway in Caracas. Guaidó appeared this morning, in a video posted online, standing among heavily armed soldiers, proclaiming he is "starting the final phase of Operation Liberty." He appeared alongside formerly jailed opposition leader Leopoldo López, who said he'd been freed from house arrest by military officers loyal to the opposition. Venezuela's defense minister said the government of Nicolás Maduro remains in control and that military units reported "normality" at barracks and bases across Venezuela. We speak to attorney Eva Golinger, who who served…

Venezuelanalysis (2019-04-30). A Military Uprising is Unfolding in Venezuela. mintpressnews.com A military coup attempt is underway in Venezuela on Tuesday, April 30, with imprisoned right wing leader Leopoldo Lopez, and self-proclaimed "Interim President" Juan Guaido and some members of the armed forces blocking a highway in Caracas and calling on the military to rise up. | According to reports, a group from Venezuela's Sebin intelligence service freed Leopoldo Lopez from house arrest early Tuesday morning. Lopez then joined Guaido and a handful of members from different branches of the armed forces in the Altamira highway in eastern Caracas close to La Carlota airbase. Lopez and Guaido published videos on…

teleSUR (2019-04-30). US: Almost 4,000 Companies Profit from Prison Industry. telesurenglish.net A non-profit advocacy organization has issued a new report for 2019 Tuesday which provides information on the corporations profiting from the prison industrial complex. | RELATED | US: Understaffed Prison Mailrooms Cause Ban on Book Donations | The report published by the advocacy group Worth Rises, who states their mission as "dedicated to dismantling the prison industrial complex and ending the exploitation of those it touches," has been keeping track of corporations that prof…

Jake Johnson, staff writer (2019-04-30). As Bernie Sanders Says 'No Apologies' for His Position, 70+ Groups Back Call for Prisoner Voting Rights. commondreams.org The advocacy organizations called on all 2020 presidential candidates to "publicly commit to ending felony disenfranchisement" | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/voting_rights.jpg

Gus Hall (2019-04-30). May Day flashbacks: Memories of a Communist and working-class leader. peoplesworld.org This collection of May Day memories from former Communist Party USA General Secretary Gus Hall (1910-2000) is an excerpt of an article that originally appeared in the Daily World newspaper on April 30, 1977. Hall shares flashbacks to some May Days in his own life—in his neighborhood, with his family, in prison during the Cold …

WSWS (2019-04-30). Pentagon fires Guantanamo prison commander for calling attention to US crimes. wsws.org Vice Admiral Ring was removed from his post after telling the media that the US prison camp had to prepare for "end-of-life" care for detainees.

Tim Requarth (2019-04-30). How Private Equity Is Turning Public Prisons Into Big Profits. thenation.com How Private Equity Is Turning Public Prisons Into Big Profits…

Michelle Chen (2019-04-30). Seeking Justice at Home. progressive.org Virginia juvenile justice advocates envision a correctional system not about police and prisons but about stability, families, and a continuum of care.

Workers World Philadelphia bureau (2019-04-30). Hundreds march in Philly to 'Free Mumia Now!'. workers.org On the heels of a favorable court decision that will allow Mumia Abu-Jamal to reopen his appeals, hundreds of people marched in the streets in the historically African-American Germantown section of Philadelphia April 27, days after the imprisoned activist/journalist's 65th birthday. The event kicked off with a rally at Vernon . . . | Continue reading Hundreds march in Philly to 'Free Mumia Now!' at Workers.org

Fight Back (2019-04-29). International Workers Day to be celebrated in Chicago. fightbacknews.org Chicago, IL — Freedom Road Socialist Organization will host a major celebration of International Workers Day, on May 2, 6 p.m. at the UE Hall, 37 S. Ashland. | A teachers and support staff strike is set to begin on May 1, and leaders of the strike will be participating in the event. | Other speakers at the May Day event will include Frank Chapman, Field Organizer of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression; Aurelius Raines, a Chicago Teachers Union leader in the charter school strike that starts May 1; Anne Kirkner, Co-President of the Graduate Employees Organization, fresh from their st…

Fight Back (2019-04-29). Primero de mayo 2019: Derroquemos a Trump y al 1%. fightbacknews.org El primero de mayo, el día internacional de los trabajadores, es una celebración de la lucha heroica por un mundo mejor por los trabajadores y los oprimidos de todo el mundo. El imperialismo es el sistema contra que luchamos. Este sistema está en todas partes, desde nuestros bajos salarios y la falta de atención médica, hasta las leyes racistas e intolerantes, hasta la interminable guerra y opresión que se siente en todo el mundo. | El imperialismo es un sistema condenado que está destinado a dar paso al socialismo, un sistema que pone a los trabajadores primero. El camino hacia la revolución y el socialismo se a…

Adam Lee (2019-04-29). Crucial Climate change bill coming to the House floor this week! naacp.org Primarily as a result of human activities, the earth's climate is now changing faster and more extremely than at any point in the history of modern civilization. In response, in 2016, a large number of countries, including the U.S., signed onto the Paris Agreement. Sadly, in June of 2017 President Trump announced his intention to withdraw the …

Austyn Ross (2019-04-29). NAACP Releases Toolkit and Launches Compton Pilot Project. naacp.org "Our Communities, Our Power: Advancing Resistance and Resilience in Climate Change Adaptation" Compton, CA. April 20th, 2019—On Tuesday, April 30th at 9: 30amPT on the steps of the Compton City Hall at 205 S Willowbrook Ave, Compton, CA 90220, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will release the Our Communities, Our Power: Advancing Resistance and Resilience …

Austyn Ross (2019-04-29). NAACP Mourns the Loss of John Singleton. naacp.org John Singleton was an amazing director and a great storyteller who was never afraid to show African Americans in complex, multi-dimensional roles. From Boyz n the Hood to Poetic Justice to the Fast and Furious franchise, Singleton helped usher in a new "Black Renaissance" of filmmaking that brought the joys and pains of the Black community into the …

Vanessa Mbonu@naacpnet (2019-04-29). NAACP Participates in Congresswoman Marcia Fudge's Voting Rights Hearings. naacp.org The NAACP joined leading civil rights and voting rights advocates in Halifax, North Carolina and Cleveland, Ohio to bring attention to voter suppression barriers in those states. Headed by Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH), the House Subcommittee on Elections hosted the hearings on voting rights and election administration and will continue to do so for the upcoming month. The NAACP …

RT (2019-04-29). Satanic Temple sues city for withdrawing permission for DEVILISH monument (PHOTO). rt.com The controversial Satanic Temple is giving its lawyers another workout, this time suing a city in Minnesota for withdrawing permission for a monument dedicated to the devil.

Staff (2019-04-29). Bernie Sanders Supports Voting Rights for the Imprisoned. therealnews.com Corporate media's twisted narrative frames voting rights as "letting terrorists and rapists vote."; Anoa Changa and Norman Solomon join host Jacqueline Luqman to discuss the battle over voting rights for people in jail…

Whitney Webb (2019-04-29). 50,000 Palestinian Children Imprisoned by Israeli Kangaroo Courts Since 1967. mintpressnews.com While Israel's government often touts itself as the "only democracy" in the Middle East, it is also the only government in the entire world that detains children through military courts with a near 100 percent conviction rate, something that even Saudi Arabia does not do.

Jared Ware & Miles Quarles (2019-04-29). How Movement To Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Prevailed Over Obstruction Of A Progressive Prosecutor. shadowproof.com A late December ruling by the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas Judge Leon Tucker re-opened pathways for long-time political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal to litigate his freedom. | "Progressive prosecutor" Larry Krasner's appeal of the ruling stood in the way until Wednesday, April 17. At issue was whether Ronald Castille—a former Philadelphia District Attorney, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice, and Krasner transition team member—had a constitutional duty to recuse himself from Mumia's appeals of…

Shadowproof (2019-04-27). The Shameful Moralizing On Prisoner Voting Rights. shadowproof.com Editor's Note: We're pleased to publish this preview of our member newsletter, "Keeping The Issues Alive," which provides a closer look at the stories we're following at Shadowproof. | Subscribe for $9/month and receive this weekly newsletter: SUBSCRIBE NOW | For this week's newsletter, Shadowproof publishing editor Brian Sonenstein responds to the backlash against the notion of allowing prisoners to vote, including those convicted of "violent offenses." | Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sander…

Vanessa Mbonu@naacpnet (2019-04-26). BAXTER, NAACP AND THE ALLIANCE FOR HOME DIALYSIS EXPAND PROGRAM TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF KIDNEY CARE AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS. naacp.org Partnership focuses on educating at-risk individuals about kidney disease and treatment options so they are inspired to make informed choices DEERFIELD, Ill., April 26, 2019 — Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX), a global leader in renal care, along with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Alliance for Home Dialysis, today announced that the Dialysis Health Imperative for Access, Choice, and Equity (ACE) program will be expanded for …

ACLU (2019-04-26). Social Media Blackouts Are an Authoritarian Power Move. aclu.org When Americans see governments shutting down Internet communications, they should see nothing but counterproductive, authoritarian exercises of power. | In the wake of the terrible Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka, that government shut down access to Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, and other social media services. The shutdown garnered praise from some within the United States and other democratic countries, but as tragic as the circumstances may be, Americans must never come to see social media or other Internet shutdowns as anything other than an authoritarian power move and/or a mistake. | Some commentators …

Jamila Johnson, SPLC Senior Supervising Attorney (2019-04-26). SPLC: Louisiana's title of incarceration capital of the world an opportunity for reform. splcenter.org Louisiana once again has the highest incarceration rate, imprisoning 719 of every 100,000 residents, according to a report released this week by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Democracy Now! (2019-04-26). Filipina Journalist Maria Ressa Helped Expose Duterte's Deadly Drug War; He's Now Trying to Jail Her. democracynow.org The award-winning Filipina journalist Maria Ressa has been arrested twice in recent months by the Philippines government as President Rodrigo Duterte cracks down on critics and the media. In February, she was detained in a cyber libel case that's widely seen as politically motivated. She was arrested again in late March for allegedly violating a ban on foreign media ownership. Duterte has long attempted to shut down Rappler, which has published groundbreaking work on Duterte's deadly war on drugs that has killed thousands. Duterte has repeatedly described the site as fake news outlet. We speak with Maria Ressa, t…

Consortiumnews (2019-04-26). Assange's Imprisonment Arguably Reveals Even More Corruption Than WikiLeaks Did. consortiumnews.com By locking up Assange, the U.S, its allies and corporate media have inadvertently exposed themselves for what they are, and we're now able to point that out for everyone to see, writes Caitlin Johnstone. By Caitlin Johnstone CaitlinJohnstone.com Consortium News has launched… Read more →

unitedEditor (2019-04-25). A Dangerous global trend (part two). uwidata.com The Belgian intelligence service (VSSE) had earlier warned that members of a far-right racist group, mainly based in Austria and Belgium, were "actively arming themselves." According to the VSSE, the far-right in Western Europe began to "call on their members to learn to shoot and acquire weapons both legally and illegally." This information, alongside a …

pip.hinman (2019-04-25). Still in detention after 10 years, Tamil refugee must now fight cancer. greenleft.org.au Sivaguru Navanitharasa is a Tamil refugee who fled Sri Lanka in 2008. After staying for a year in Malaysia with no legal status, he set out for Australia, where he has been detained for nearly 10 years, first on Christmas Island and then in Villawood detention centre. | Navanitharasa is now in MITA immigration detention centre in Broadmeadows, Melbourne, where he faces a new challenge: overcoming cancer. | Navanitharasa has been recognised as a refugee, but remains in detention because ASIO classified him as a security risk. This was due to his previous membership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a…

Democracy Now! (2019-04-25). From Crime Bill to Iraq War Vote, Biden's Legislative History Under Scrutiny as He Enters Race. democracynow.org Former Vice President Joe Biden has entered the 2020 race for the White House, becoming the 20th Democrat to seek the nomination in the largest and most diverse field of Democratic candidates ever to run for president. Biden will face scrutiny for his long and checkered record in the coming weeks, including his 1994 crime bill, that helped fuel mass incarceration with financial incentives to keep people behind bars, and his handling of Anita Hill's sexual harassment allegations against Supreme Court justice nominee Clarence Thomas in 1991. Biden is also known for close ties to the financial industry and voting to…

Staff (2019-04-25). Sen. Warren Wants to Jail Those Who Caused 2008's Meltdown. therealnews.com BIll Black examines the historical context of Warren's bills for easier prosecution of banks and corporate leaders…

Democracy Now! (2019-04-25). Headlines for April 25, 2019. democracynow.org President Trump Vows to Fight "All the Subpoenas" from Congress, U.S. Forces and Allies Killed More Afghan Civilians in Early 2019 Than the Taliban, U.S.-Led Coalition Killed 1,600 Syrian Civilians in Raqqa, Syria, China Jails Hong Kong Activists Who Led 2014 Pro-Democracy Rallies, Wealthy Sri Lankan Spice Trader Among Those Arrested over Easter Bombings, U.N. Condemns Saudi Arabia's Mass Execution of 37 Prisoners, Texas Executes White Supremacist Behind 1998 Lynching of James Byrd Jr., Joe Biden Enters 2020 Presidential Race, Kirstjen Nielsen Warned Against Discussing Russian Election Meddling with Trump, Thousa…

pip.hinman (2019-04-25). Refugee sends plea from Manus Island. greenleft.org.au Thousands turned out for refugee rights rallies across the country on Palm Sunday, April 14. | Kurdish refugee Farhad Bandesh, who is detained on Manus Island, addressed the rally in Newcastle by phone. Below is an edited transcript of his speech. | *** | My name is Farhad Bandesh. | I speak to you from Manus Island, where I have been imprisoned and tortured with others, like our friends on Nauru, for nearly six years. | I wish to acknowledge the land of the Awabakal people of the Kulin Nation, stolen land, and I pay respect to Indigenous people, past, present and future. | I want to thank you all so very much fo…

ACLU (2019-04-24). An Indictment in All But Name. aclu.org The report dispassionately lays out the facts, which are an indictment in all but name. | Special Counsel Robert Mueller's long-awaited report, released to the public in a redacted version on April 18, lays out in meticulous detail both a blatantly illegal effort by Russia to throw the 2016 presidential election to Donald Trump and repeated efforts by President Trump to end, limit, or impede Mueller's investigation of Russian interference. Trump's efforts included firing or attempting to fire those overseeing the investigation, directing subordinates to lie on his behalf, cajoling witnesses not to cooperate, and…

Democracy Now! (2019-04-24). Bernie Sanders Spurs Debate on Prisoner Voting Rights, But the Idea Is "Not as Radical as It Seems" democracynow.org Presidential candidate and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders said at a town hall Monday that he believed in restoring voting rights for prisoners, sparking a national discussion about re-enfranchisement for the more than 2 million Americans behind bars. Presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg has spoken out against prisoner voting rights, while Senator Elizabeth Warren said "I'm not there yet" on the issue. Senator Kamala Harris said "there has to be serious consequence for the most extreme types of crimes," referencing her background as a prosecutor. We speak with Ari Berman, senior writer at Mother Jones, about the pu…

Democracy Now! (2019-04-24). Headlines for April 24, 2019. democracynow.org Trump Says White House Aides Should Not Testify to Congress, Treasury Secretary Mnuchin Ignores Congressional Deadline on Trump's Tax Records, U.S. Uses Veto Threat to Gut U.N. Resolution on Sexual Violence, Death Toll from Sri Lanka Easter Bombings Climbs to 359, Saudi Arabia Carries Out Mass Execution of Prisoners, Including Public Crucifixion, Hasan Minhaj Confronts Jared Kushner over His Support of Saudi Crown Prince, Kim Jong-un Arrives in Russia for First Meeting with Vladimir Putin, Malawi Begins First-Ever Malaria Vaccination Campaign, NYT Report: Navy SEALs Were Ordered to Remain Silent on War Crimes, Dr…

Democracy Now! (2019-04-23). Right-Wing Vigilantes Hold Migrants Hostage on U.S. Border. Did Border Patrol Give Tacit Approval? democracynow.org The FBI has arrested the head of an armed vigilante group that has repeatedly filmed itself detaining migrant border crossers at gunpoint. Sixty-nine-year-old Larry Mitchell Hopkins is the leader of the far-right, pro-Trump group calling itself United Constitutional Patriots, which the American Civil Liberties Union described as an "armed fascist militia organization." His arrest came just days after the ACLU accused the vigilantes of illegally detaining 300 migrants, including young children, near Sunland Park, New Mexico, last week. We speak to Peter Simonson, executive director of the ACLU of New Mexico.

ACLU (2019-04-22). Supreme Court Takes Cases of People Fired for Being LGBTQ. aclu.org The court will consider whether to take anti-discrimination protections away from LGBTQ people. | Can a business fire someone because they're LGBTQ? The Supreme Court will soon tell us. | After a funeral home outside Detroit fired Aimee Stephens because she is transgender, Aimee won a federal appeals court ruling that the firing violated the federal law barring sex discrimination in the workplace. After Don Zarda was fired from his job as a skydiving instr…