(2018-11-13). Protesters to Qantas: 'Don't profit at the expense of human lives'. greenleft.org.au 
Thirty refugee supporters protested outside the Melbourne headquarters of Jetstar on November 9, demanding that Qantas (Jetstar's parent company) cease participating in the deportation of asylum seekers. | Tamil Refugee Council member Aran Mylvaganam told the rally that the Australian government has deported hundreds of Tamil asylum seekers to Sri Lanka. Citing a United Nations report, which showed that torture is "endemic and routine" in Sri Lanka, he said Tamils who are sent back are in grave danger. He called on Qantas not to be complicit, saying: "Don't make a profit at the expense of human lives".
(2018-11-13). Protest At Paris UNESCO HQ Over Exclusion At Colombian Pres Iván Duque Márquez Speech. indybay.org Colombian students and human rights activists protested their exclusion from the IGF at a conference at UNESC where Colombian president Iván Duque Márquez was speaking. He has allowed murders to continue and is pushing privatization of education.
(2018-11-13). Alameda rap song on renters struggle against corporate landlords, urges "No on K" vote. indybay.org Corporate landlords recently attempted to force a weak rent law into the City of Alameda's charter in order to prevent future changes. Alameda historian, journalist, and MC Rasheed Shabazz dropped a"No On K" rap documenting the recent renters' rights struggle there and the battle against the landlord-backed Measure K on the November 6, 2018 ballot.
(2018-11-13). Sri Lankan political crisis deepens: Prime minister splits from president. wsws.org None of the factions of the ruling class will defend the basic rights of working people, but will ruthlessly impose the austerity dictates of the IMF and big business.
(2018-11-13). Aboriginal Rights: Canada's Legal System's Complicity in Genocide. "Canadian Law Courts Dare not Deliberate" globalresearch.ca [T]he US government no less than the government of Canada is required to obtain the consent of the Indian nations' before assuming jurisdiction to invade, occupy and govern the yet unceded Indian national territories. – Bruce Clark, Ongoing Genocide …
(2018-11-13). Judge orders moratorium on offshore fracking in federal waters off California. indybay.org "Protecting the health of our coastal waters is essential to our commitment to conserving the ecosystem and marine life necessary for our maritime culture," said Mati Waiya, executive director of Wishtoyo Foundation. "The decision by honorable Judge Gutierrez upholds the law that ensures the health of our ocean waters. We all celebrate this decision that honors the rights of our maritime resources."
(2018-11-13). Fujimori's new detention sets reconfiguration of Peruvian politics. wsws.org The leader of Fuerza Popular (FP), Keiko Fujimori, was sentenced to 36 months of "preventive detention" while being investigated in the Odebrecht scandal.
(2018-11-12). Twin Cites FRSO holds event on midterm elections. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis MN — More than 50 people packed Mayday book store, Nov. 11, for an event hosted by Freedom Road Socialist Organization on the outcome of the midterm elections. Speakers at the event included leaders of the movements for immigrant rights, labor, and against police terror. | Steff Yorek, the Political Secretary of FRSO told the crowd, "These elections were a referendum on Donald Trump and his policies. Voters provided an important setback to him and reduced the number of friends he has in the House and among state governors." | Brad Sigal, also of FRSO said, "Working people's lives are not getting…
(2018-11-12). House Democrats Plan to Restore Voting Rights, Ethics Laws. truthdig.com In 2013, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in Shelby County v. Holder that Southern states with the most prevalent history of voter suppression no longer had to clear changes to voting rights laws with the federal government because "our country has changed." | Today's suspiciously missing and malfunctioning voting machines in Georgia, voter ID laws in …
(2018-11-12). Media Ignores the Plight of Kirill Vyshinsky: A Russian Journalist Imprisoned Without Trial in Ukraine. mintpressnews.com Eva Bartlett speaks with journalist Vladimir Rodzianko on the detention of Kirill Vyshinsky by Ukraine since May 2018. Ukrainian authorities accuse Vyshinsky of "treason" and have delayed his trials twice.
(2018-11-12). Israeli Forces Detain 8-year-old Palestinian Child Near Hebron. globalresearch.ca According to Defense for Children International, Israel is the only country in the world that automatically prosecutes children in military courts that lack basic and fundamental fair trial guarantees. | The majority of Palestinian child detainees are charged with throwing …
(2018-11-12). Iran Honoring Nuclear Deal As New Sanctions Hit, IAEA Report Shows. iranian.com Iran has continued to implement the main nuclear restrictions set by its 2015 deal with major powers, a quarterly U.N. watchdog report shows, though several items were verified shortly before reimposed U.S. sanctions took effect. Iran has kept its stock of low-enriched uranium as well as the level to which it enriches uranium within the […]
(2018-11-12). Who Is Afraid of American Sanctions? globalresearch.ca The American administration under Trump has become so addicted to waging economic sanctions; a new form of war, against other countries to a point where it does not hesitate to break international laws, to impose sanctions against its strategic …
(2018-11-12). Are Trump's Anti-Iranian Sanctions-Waivers Strategic Or Signs Of Weakness? iranian.com The US temporarily waived its anti-Iranian sanctions for a handful of countries and the breakaway Chinese province of Taiwan. Some observers interpreted this as a sign of weakness indicating the Trump Administration's inability to enforce its unilateral sanctions in the face of the emerging Multipolar World Order, but the truth is that these waivers are highly strategic because […]
(2018-11-10). The law versus worker rights. mronline.org 
Organizing a union is no easy task in the United States. Although organizing a union is supposed to be a protected right, businesses regularly fire union supporters knowing that they face minimal punishment even if found guilty for their actions. In fact, the rights of all workers, regardless of their interest in unionization, are being […] | Source
(2018-11-09). President Trump's Proclamation Suspending Asylum Rights Is Illegal, So We're Suing. aclu.org Refugees fleeing violence have a right to declare asylum regardless of how and where they enter the country. | Claiming that the illegal entry of immigrants across the southern border of the United States is a national crisis, President Trump on Friday issued a proclamation purporting to bar the entry of all persons entering the United States at any place other than an official port of entry. | The Trump administration's action is contrary to the founding values of the country — welcoming homeless refugees to our shores. It also violates U.S. law, so we, along with the
(2018-11-09). NAACP Demands for Georgia Election Officials to Promptly Investigate Pattern of Georgia Students Being Denied the Right to Vote. naacp.org BALTIMORE(November 9, 2018)—NAACP, the nation's foremost civil rights organization, sent a letter to Georgia elections officials just two days after the state's too-close-to-call elections, demanding a prompt investigation into reports that Georgia student voters were turned away from polling stations, unable to vote. Others were improperly required to vote provisional ballots. The letter cites two instances where university students […] | The post
(2018-11-09). SPLC working to restore voting rights to thousands disenfranchised by Jim Crow-era laws. splcenter.org An "I Voted" sticker stuck prominently to Jazmine Clay's yellow T-shirt as she walked toward a pavilion in Birmingham's Learning Tree Park, next to her polling place.
(2018-11-09). Jeff Sessions Was the Worst Attorney General in Modern American History. aclu.org From immigration to transgender rights, Attorney General Jeff Sessions showed contempt for American civil rights and liberties. | On Wednesday, the Trump administration bid farewell to one of its most infamous members: Attorney General Jeff Sessions. In his brief tenure, Sessions managed to dismantle and rescind an astounding range of efforts by prior administrations to protect civil rights and civil liberties and introduced new policies that endanger some of the most vulnerable citizens in the U.S. | From his draconian approach to immigration policy to his efforts to erase protections for transgender people to h…
(2018-11-09). Jeff Sessions Leaves a Dark Mark on the Justice Department. aclu.org Sessions' Justice Department systematically undermined civil liberties and civil rights. | Under almost any other circumstances, the firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions would be a moment for dancing in the streets. Sessions oversaw a Justice Department that systematically undermined civil liberties and civil rights. | But his departure portends no improvement on these fronts. And the fact that President Trump
(2018-11-09). Civil rights under threat in name of national security. greenleft.org.au 
One of the usual threats trotted out by governments proposing what would otherwise be considered radical attacks on civil liberties is national security. | The Australian newspaper reported on June 8 that Attorney-General Christian Porter was demanding urgent passage of two separate espionage and foreign interference bills following "intelligence advice of an accelerated escalation in hostile foreign activity over the past 12 months". | The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security had just published a 400-page report containing 60 recommendations, giving the green light to the first bill, the Es…
(2018-11-09). Trump May Soon Deal Yet Another Blow to Union Rights. thenation.com Trump May Soon Deal Yet Another Blow to Union Rights…
(2018-11-09). Trump challenged on trans and gender diverse discrimination. greenleft.org.au 
Trans and gender diverse people in the US are preparing to fight for their lives — literally — against a push by the Republican religious right to quash life-saving laws protecting them from discrimination. | A leaked memo from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revealed it is pushing for the federal civil rights law that bans gender discrimination in education programs receiving government assistance to redefine sex as binary. If the push is successful, the law wound dictate that the gender assigned at birth cannot be changed. | If successful, this would effectively exclude about 2 mil…
(2018-11-09). Before Resigning, Jeff Sessions Handcuffed the Justice Department's Ability to Police the Police. aclu.org The former attorney general's last action all but eliminates federal oversight of abusive law enforcement agencies. | In his final move as attorney general, Jeff Sessions on Wednesday issued a new policy that all but eliminates federal oversight of state and local law enforcement agencies that engage in unconstitutional and unlawful policing. While Sessions — a white man with money and political connections — will likely never be personally affected by this policy change, his decision to sabotage the legal instruments of federal civil rights enforcement is going to harm people and communities of color…
(2018-11-09). Venezuelan Communists say Maduro government not responding to workers' demands. peoplesworld.org 
In late October, the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) called for an "urgent" meeting with President Nicolás Maduro to discuss a series of government shortcomings in the area of workers' and campesinos', or peasant farmers, rights. The proposed meeting, according to the general secretary of the PCV, àìscar Figuera, should be held "with the gloves …
(2018-11-09). Government proposes making journalism a crime. greenleft.org.au 
Proposed amendments to the Criminal Code Act of 1995 will make it impossible for media organisations to accurately report on what governments do behind closed doors. | The pretence for this legislative proposal, which was tabled in federal parliament at the end of last year, is supposedly to respond to the growing threat of foreign states influencing Australia's political landscape. | Apparently inspired by the scandal involving Labor politician Sam Dastyari and his alleged links to the Chinese government, the Foreign Influence and Transparency Scheme Bill is in reality an attack on democratic rights and the abil…
(2018-11-08). Oregon sanctuary law survives hate groups' election campaign. splcenter.org Oregon retains its unique sanctuary law after voters on Tuesday emphatically rejected a statewide measure to repeal it. The law was targeted for elimination in a campaign financed and supported by anti-immigrant hate groups.
(2018-11-08). The Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Agenda for the New Congress. aclu.org Now that the election is over, Congress should take its cue from the electorate. | This week's midterms should send a strong message to the political establishment that when our civil rights and civil liberties are on the line, American voters will step in. Decision-makers should be taking close note of Tuesday's sky-high turnout, an unprecedented wave of victories for diverse candidates, and a slew of local milestones for …
(2018-11-08). Headlines for November 8, 2018. democracynow.org California: Mass Shooter Kills At Least 12 at Student-Filled Bar, Trump Fires AG Sessions, Puts New Loyalist in Charge of Mueller Probe, WH Bans CNN Reporter Acosta as Trump Spars with Reporters, At Least 15 Midterm Races Still Uncalled, GOP Congressmembers Facing Indictments Re-elected, Voters Weighed In on Abortion Rights Measures in WV, AL, OR, Philippines: Lawyer Fighting Duterte's Drug War Shot Dead, Poland: Warsaw Mayor Bans Annual Far-Right March, Cameroon: Almost 80 Kidnapped Students Released…
(2018-11-08). State Department: US Will Soon Impose More Sanctions Against Russia. theantimedia.com 
(ANTIWAR.COM) — The US State Department has announced that they intend to soon impose additional sanctions against Russia, after demanding that Russia provide them with a statement offering very specific "assurances" on the use of chemical weapons. This all goes back to the allegations of a March Novichok attack in Salisbury, England. The British government blamed Russia for the …
(2018-11-08). France Vows to Protect Iran Against US Acting as World's "Trade Policeman" theantimedia.com 
(MEMO) — France has vowed to fulfill plans to defy the US' sanctions on Iran while increasing the international role of the euro in order to prevent Washington from acting as the world's "trade policeman". France's Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire, told the British newspaper Financial Times that Europe is planning the formation of a special …
(2018-11-07). NAACP LAUNCHES ALL IN CAMPAIGN, TO RECRUIT, RETAIN AND ENGAGE NEW MEMBERSHIPS. naacp.org National membership campaign launches just one day after a momentum building midterm election. BALTIMORE (November 7, 2018) — Just one day after the 2018 midterm elections, NAACP, the nation's foremost civil rights organization, continues the momentum by launching an ALL IN national membership campaign aimed at mobilizing NAACP units to increase their membership at least 20 percent by its […]
(2018-11-07). The 2018 Midterm Elections Were a Big Win for Criminal Justice Reform Ballot Initiatives. aclu.org Voters made it clear that they've had enough of President Trump's "tough on crime" rhetoric. | Wednesday morning I woke up in a better America when it comes to criminal justice reform. | On Election Day, voters in states across the country said enough is enough to America's horrific criminal justice system. They voted for reforms that will change people's lives for the better while expanding our civil liberties and civil rights. They also voted for reform-minded law enforcement officials and against the "law and order" types who have led to America's epidemic of mass incarceration. In other words, they rejected…
(2018-11-07). Headlines for November 7, 2018. democracynow.org Democrats Take the House of Representatives as GOP Gains in Senate, Democrat Stacey Abrams Refuses to Concede Georgia Governor's Race, Republican Ron DeSantis Defeats Andrew Gillum in Florida Governor's Race, Maryland GOP Gov. Larry Hogan Defeats Former NAACP Head Ben Jealous, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz Defeats Progressive Democratic Challenger Beto O'Rourke in Texas, Incumbent Senate Democrats Lose in North Dakota, Indiana and Missouri, Democrats Win Governor's Races in Maine and Midwestern States, Wave of Women Voters Brings Historic Firsts in Midterm Elections, Florida to Restore Voting Rights to 1.4 Million wit…
(2018-11-07). New York Registration Deadline Prevents Tens of Thousands From Voting. aclu.org The 25-day cutoff is an unnecessary and outdated burden on New Yorkers' right to vote. | Imagine a national department store chain holding a "Back to School" sale in late July instead of in August. People who show up close to when school actually starts are told, "You're too late." | That's what voting in New York is like. Each election cycle, thousands of New Yorkers are prevented from casting a ballot because of the state's registration cutoff, which requires voters to register at least 25 days in advance of the election in order for their vote to count. | The 25-day registration cutoff imposes an unnecessary a…
(2018-11-07). Petition: Tell the new Congress to block Trump's white nationalist agenda. splcenter.org Last night, Americans shifted the balance of power in the House of Representatives, creating a Democratic majority. The new Congress now holds the responsibility to take a stand for civil and human rights.
(2018-11-07). NAACP STATEMENT ON JEFF SESSIONS RESIGNATION. naacp.org "U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' resignation might be a welcomed reprieve from his jurisdiction over the justice department. His odious record has done little to impact the civil liberties of African Americans, confirming our deepest concerns when it comes to criminal justice and equal rights. However, given the administration's track record on appointing problematic people […]
(2018-11-07). "Love Prevails": Floridians Celebrate Massive Restoration of Voting Rights to People with Felonies. democracynow.org 
At least 1.4 million people have regained the right to vote in Florida, following the passage of Amendment 4, a statewide initiative to re-enfranchise people with felony convictions who have completed their sentences, excluding people convicted of murder or sex offenses. The amendment passed overwhelmingly, with 64.5 percent of the vote. It needed 60 percent to pass. The win will permanently alter politics in a state that elected Republican Ron DeSantis as Florida governor by just over 55,000 votes, according to the latest numbers. DeSantis defeated Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum, who was vying…
(2018-11-07). Venezuela Looks to Dodge Sanctions & Repatriate Gold from Bank of England. venezuelanalysis.com The reported measure will bring US $550m worth of national reserves back to Caracas only days after Washington announced new gold-targeting sanctions.
(2018-11-07). Hatewatch Headlines 11/7/2018. splcenter.org Time to declare war on domestic terrorism; CBP accused of voter intimidation; Oregon voters stand behind immigrant sanctuary law; and more.
(2018-11-06). Florida's Amendment 4 Would Restore Voting Rights to 1.4 Million People with Nonviolent Felonies. democracynow.org 
Florida voters are preparing to vote on Amendment 4, a measure that would restore voting rights to 1.4 million people with nonviolent felonies who have fully completed their sentences. One in five African Americans in Florida and 10 percent of the state's adult population are ineligible to vote because of a criminal record. Across the United States, more than 6.1 million people with felony convictions are not eligible to vote. Florida is one of just four states that bar them from voting for life. In October, Amy Goodman traveled to Melbourne, Florida, and spoke with Desmond Meade, the president of the Florida Rig…
(2018-11-06). "Smoking Gun" Evidence Shows Trump Admin's Top Anti-Immigrant Officials Trying to Rig the Census. democracynow.org 
We look at a federal trial underway in New York City that could overturn the Trump administration's plans to put a citizenship question on the 2020 census. Voting rights activists fear the question will deter immigrants from participating in the census, leading to a vast undercount in states with large immigrant communities. This could impact everything from the redrawing of congressional maps to the allocation of federal funding. The citizenship question was announced in March by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who touted it as a way to enforce the Voting Rights Act and protect minorities against voter disc…
(2018-11-06). NAACP Unites in Demand to Make Panama City Florida Polling Sites Accessible to Hurricane Victims. naacp.org Groups Want Equal Access to the Polls for Communities Displaced by Hurricane Michael BALTIMORE—(November 6, 2018) Florida officials have rejected a formal request from voting rights advocates to make polling locations more accessible to African-American residents of Panama City, Florida, who were hard hit by Hurricane Michael. Late last week, a coalition of voting rights […] | The post
(2018-11-06). The West is Failing Julian Assange. consortiumnews.com While the media focused on Julian Assange's cat rather than his continuing arbitrary detention, evidence shows that Britain worked hard to force his extradition to Sweden where Assange feared he could then be turned over to the U.S., as Stefania… Read more →
(2018-11-05). SPLC urges Trump administration to preserve measures that protect immigrant children from detention. splcenter.org Jenny Lisette Flores came to America at 15, fleeing civil war in El Salvador to find protection with family members in the U.S.
(2018-11-05). Maduro: Venezuela Sitting on 2nd Biggest Gold Reserve on Earth. venezuelanalysis.com President Nicolas Maduro described the U.S. sanctions on Venezuela as "crazy" and "criminal."
(2018-11-05). Gasoline Shortages Hit Western Venezuela. venezuelanalysis.com Whilst the government hinted at import problems due to US sanctions, others have cited additional factors, including cross-border smuggling, poor maintenance and increased demand due to the upcoming price hike.
(2018-11-05). SPLC lawsuit: Family detained, searched in Mississippi because they 'looked' Latino. splcenter.org The Martinez family was traveling along a Mississippi highway — on their way to a vacation — when a sheriff's deputy stopped them for no apparent reason.
(2018-11-04). Despite Saudi Crisis, US Increases Threats Against Iran. consortiumnews.com Though the U.S.-Saudi alliance may have been weakened because of the Khashoggi murder, both countries are still targeting Iran as new US sanctions are announced on Sunday, writes Marjorie Cohn of Truthout. By Marjorie Cohn Truthout The alleged torture, murder… Read more →
(2018-11-04). Trump's Latin American Sanctions: Clear 'Political Tactic' For Midterms. venezuelanalysis.com VA's Paul Dobson analyzes the latest US sanctions in this Sputnik News report.