(2018-10-14). Five Ways to Make Direct Action Organizing Less Ableist. truthout.org There is an ableist misconception that those with disabilities don't participate in marches, rallies, lockdowns and resistance camps. In reality, we are here and more of us would like to get in on the action. | I am multiply disabled due to a host of illnesses, chronic pain and mobility impairments. The issues of ableism have been a constant plague for me. I've lost jobs, wages, friends, family, romantic partners and more due to others' unwillingness to make necessary accommodations and supports for me. | I also experience ableism in activist organizing spaces that purport to support the rights of the marginalize…
(2018-10-14). Environmental Activist Bernardo Caal Xol Awaits Verdict. telesurtv.net The Guatemalan environmental activist has been accused of fraud, aggravated theft and illegally detaining workers.
(2018-10-14). Freed Pastor Prays for Trump in Oval Office Visit. truthdig.com The clergyman—whose detention in Turkey generated an outcry from evangelicals—had just returned to the U.S. after being held for nearly two years.
(2018-10-14). Argentina: 33rd National Women Women's Conference Begins. telesurtv.net Over 65,000 women will gather in Chubut to share their individual and collective experiences and to design new strategies to achieve equal rights.
(2018-10-14). Iran Official Calls For 'Lobbying Anti-Trump Movements'. iranian.com One of Iran's top foreign policy officials has called for negotiations with "anti-Trump movements" in the US to dampen the impact of sanctions, local media reported Saturday. "America is not Trump," said Heshmatollah Falahat-Pisheh, a conservative lawmaker who heads parliament's influential national security and foreign policy commission, according to reformist newspaper Arman. "There is a […]
(2018-10-14). Russian Opposition Leader Navalny Freed From Jail. truthdig.com MOSCOW—Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been released from jail after serving 50 days on two consecutive sentences for organizing unsanctioned protests. | Navalny, President Vladimir Putin's most prominent foe, had been sentenced to 30 days for organizing a protest in August, but upon release was immediately arrested and then sentenced to another 20 days for organizing a protest that took place while he was in jail. | Both protests were against a Russian government plan to raise the eligibility age for state pensions, which has since been signed into law. | After his release early Sunday, Navaln…
(2018-10-13). Evacuating Nauru: Médecins Sans Frontières and Australia's Refugee Dilemma. globalresearch.ca It is an organisation not without its problems. Conceived in the heat of idealism, and promoted as the vanguard of medical rescue and human rights advocacy, Médecins Sans Frontières has had its faults. Its co-founder Bernard Kouchner went a bit …
(2018-10-13). Election 2018: What's at Stake for Families. truthout.org The United States is experiencing an extraordinary political moment. Apart from the omnipresent chaos that surrounds the Trump presidency itself — the near-daily stress test on the country's democratic institutions — there's also contention around how the economy functions, around social benefits, around civil rights, around gender relations, immigration policy, the environment, the composition of the US Supreme Court (not to mention a slew of lower federal courts), voting rights and myriad other big-ticket items. | "We're at a crossroads," says Brigid Flaherty, the co-founder and co-director of
(2018-10-12). Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno's Assault on Human Rights and Judicial Independence. counterpunch.org Oswaldo Ruiz-Chiriboga, is an Ecuadorian legal scholar who teaches human rights and constitutional law at the Central European University in Hungary. He talked to Joe Emersberger about Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno's assault on human rights and judicial independence. Most of Moreno's attacks abuses stem from a referendum of February, 2018 that was called by decree More
(2018-10-12). Weekend Read: For immigrant survivors of sexual assault, support is off the books. splcenter.org President Trump has now appointed two men to the Supreme Court. During an oral argument this week, one of them, Justice Neil Gorsuch, seemed concerned about the expansive use of government power to detain immigrants.
(2018-10-12). "Educators Who Bravely Act on Principle Should be Championed, Not Punished" bdsmovement.net 
"Educators Who Bravely Act on Principle Should be Championed, Not Punished": UpdatePalestinian civil society responds to efforts by the University of Michigan to silence teachers who act in support of Palestinian human rights: "As long as Israeli universi…
(2018-10-12). US student critical of Israel detained at Tel Aviv airport for more than a week. wsws.org Lara Alqasem, 22, was targeted because she is president of the University of Florida's chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, which supports the BDS campaign against Israel.
(2018-10-12). Revolution at Risk: 'Humanitarian Intervention' in Venezuela Aims at Regime Change. globalresearch.ca Turmoil reigns in Venezuela. A story serves to illustrate and to introduce the report presented here. | The Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) on its website claims that the national police in Táchira state recently arrested and tortured PCV member José …
(2018-10-12). Facebook carries out massive purge of oppositional pages. wsws.org In a sweeping assault on democratic rights, Facebook has carried out a purge of oppositional media pages with millions of followers.
(2018-10-12). Israeli Authorities Step Up anti-BDS Policies: Political Test to Enter Israel. therealnews.com 
Israel border authorities have detained US-Palestinian student for her alleged Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) activism, denying her entry into Israel, despite having a visa. Tallie Ben-Daniel of Jewish voice for Peace discusses the case and what it means for the BDS movement
(2018-10-12). Police Brutality Against Black Kansas City Man Caught on Video. aclu.org 
Police encounters too often turn violent or deadly for people of color across the nation. | Black people in Missouri are disproportionately stopped or harassed by police. Twenty years of collected data shows Black drivers are stopped at a rate 85 percent higher than white drivers. And too many police departments across the state regularly use disproportionate force in dealing with (2018-10-12). Israeli Authorities Step Up anti-BDS Policies: Political Test to Enter Israel. therealnews.com Israel border authorities have detained US-Palestinian student for her alleged Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) activism, denying her entry into Israel, despite having a visa. Tallie Ben-Daniel of Jewish voice for Peace discusses the case and what it means for the BDS movement
(2018-10-12). Oil Experts Divided As Iran Sanctions Loom. iranian.com The heads of the world's top oil trading houses are unanimous that Iranian sanctions will remove a large chunk of oil from the market, more than initially expected, but they have very diverging opinions on where oil prices are headed for the rest of the year and in 2019. At the Oil & Money conference […]
(2018-10-12). Kaepernick honored with medal named after U.S. Communist W.E.B. Du Bois. peoplesworld.org 
Blacklisted NFL quarterback and civil rights activist Colin Kaepernick was among eight people today to receive Harvard University's "highest honor in the field of African and African-American studies." The W.E.B. Du Bois medal, Harvard explains, is "awarded to individuals in the U.S. and around the globe in recogni…
(2018-10-12). For Popular Sovereignty, Beyond Absurdity. counterpunch.org 
Troubling as the noxious Kavanaugh's personal history and untruthfulness are, however, it was even more depressing to see the highly personalized soap opera over his past behavior trump momentous questions of law and policy (including sexist and patriarchal law and policy) — abortion rights, presidential immunity from prosecution, torture, and more in his nomination fight. More
(2018-10-12). Jamal Khashoggi Wasn't the First — Saudi Arabia Has Been Going After Dissidents Abroad for Decades. theintercept.com 
The story of Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance and possible murder has riveted the world's attention with its macabre, and mysterious, details. The soft-spoken but sharply critical Saudi journalist vanished after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 2. Theories about his fate include the horrifying possibility that Khashoggi was murdered — and perhaps even tortured and dismembered — at the hands of the Saudi state. (The Saudi government continues to vehemently deny these charges.) Should these allegations prove true, Khashoggi's fate could have vast ramifications for the reputati…
(2018-10-12). Venezuela and Israel Take Center Stage in Brazil's Far Right Presidential Campaign. mintpressnews.com 
Frontrunner Bolsonaro has vowed to sever diplomatic relations with Caracas and back sanctions while establishing closer ties with the ultra-right government in Israel.
(2018-10-12). In Latest Yemen Offensive, Saudi Arabia Destroys Hospital and Maternity Ward. mintpressnews.com The latest Saudi coalition attacks came in the face of demands issued by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child for the coalition to stop its deadly airstrikes against civilian targets in Yemen.
(2018-10-12). Supreme Court Enables Mass Disenfranchisement of North Dakota's Native Americans. aclu.org A restrictive law will make it hard to vote for people who live on reservations in rural areas and don't have street addresses. | On Tuesday, the Supreme Court chose to stand by and allow the war against voting to continue. Just a little less than a month before midterm elections that will determine control of Congress, the court decided not to block North Dakota's restrictive voter ID law, which will make it harder for people in that state to cast their ballots. | Republicans in the state legislature insist that the l…
(2018-10-12). Rep. Ro Khanna Condemns Saudi Barbarity from Disappearance of Saudi Journalist to War in Yemen. democracynow.org 
President Donald Trump is rejecting calls to cut off arms sales to Saudi Arabia following the disappearance and probable murder of the Saudi-born Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The Washington Post is reporting the Turkish government told U.S. officials it has audio and video evidence that Khashoggi was killed last week inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Officials say the recordings confirm that a Saudi security team detained Khashoggi after he walked into the consulate on October 2, before killing him and dismembering his body. We speak with Ro Khanna, Democratic congressmember from California.
(2018-10-12). American College Student Considers Taking BDS Detention Case to Israel's Supreme Court. mintpressnews.com After her legal challenge to end her detention was rejected by an Israeli district court on Friday, academics and activists pledged their support on Friday for Lara Alqasem, the 22-year-old U.S. graduate student who has been held for 10 days by Israel over accusations she has supported the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement that demands rights and freedom for Palestinians. | #LaraAlqasem's case exposed much: #Israel racially profiles those entering & the (2018-10-12). Were the Constitution and the Bill of Rights a Mistake? counterpunch.org The United States Constitution was ratified in 1788, the Bill of Rights in 1791. The Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation which had previously organized the separate states in a confederation which could not tax people directly or raise an army on its own. There was much opposition to this change, and those who were More
(2018-10-12). NAACP Monitoring Possible Voter Suppression Tactics in Georgia Governor Race. naacp.org Over 53,000 Voter Registration Applications on Hold in Secretary of State Kemp's Office BALTIMORE—The nation's foremost civil rights organization is closely monitoring possible voter suppression in the state of Georgia stemming from Secretary of State Brian Kemp's ongoing failure to process over 53,000 voter registration applications. "It's a stain on our system of democracy when less than a month before an […]
(2018-10-12). Pope to Declare Slain Salvadoran Archbishop àìscar Romero a Saint. counterpunch.org On Sunday, the Catholic Church will have half a dozen new saints as Pope Francis I canonizes five people including àìscarRomero, the former archbishop of El Salvador who was assassinated by a US-backed death squad in 1980 after years of peacefully fighting for the rights of his poor and oppressed compatriots. Romero's canonization follows a More
(2018-10-12). Rep. Ro Khanna Introduces Internet Bill of Rights as Facebook & Google Admit Privacy Breaches. democracynow.org 
Facebook and Google recently admitted major privacy breaches. Facebook says the personal information of nearly 50 million users were exposed after an online attack. Meanwhile, Google is shutting down its social network Google Plus after revelations of a data breach that exposed the private data of hundreds of thousands of users. The breach was discovered in March but was not disclosed to the public. We speak to Rep. Ro Khanna, who recently introduced an Internet Bill of Rights.
(2018-10-11). "Something Out of a Horror Movie": Egyptian Security Forces Tortured and Raped American-Citizen Detainee, Rights Group Says. theintercept.com 
Khaled Hassan's case is the most brazen example of Egypt abusing a U.S. citizen. But he's not alone.
(2018-10-11). Open letter by students condemns right-wing offensive at Berlin's Humboldt University. wsws.org Student organisations from Humboldt University and across Germany published an open letter denouncing the cooperation of the university administration with the far right and its attacks on students' social and democratic rights.
(2018-10-11). Don't Call Nikki Haley a Moderate. She's an Extremist on Israel, Iran, and Human Rights. theintercept.com 
Trump's outgoing U.N. ambassador is getting applause from the media for being so moderate. But Haley has been a champion for right-wing causes.
(2018-10-11). At Largest ICE Detention Center in the Country, Guards Called Attempted Suicides "Failures" theintercept.com 
A scathing official report confirmed systemic neglect and abuse that detainees at ICE's Adelanto immigration detention center have condemned for years.
(2018-10-11). Venezuela Takes Center Stage in Brazilian Far Right Presidential Campaign. venezuelanalysis.com Frontrunner Bolsonaro has vowed to sever diplomatic relations with Caracas and back sanctions while establishing closer ties with the ultra-right government in Israel.
(2018-10-11). Jury Sends Wisconsin a $780,000 Bill for Denying Health Care to Two Transgender Workers. aclu.org A growing number of courts are ruling that transgender public employees should have access to transition-related health care. | Shannon Andrews just helped bring comprehensive health care coverage to transgender state employees across Wisconsin. Even more reassuring, she proved that average Americans understand that discrimination against transgender people comes with a cost. | Shannon supervises a cancer research lab at the University of Wisconsin. Like other state employees, she gets health care insurance through the state. But as a transgender woman, Shannon faced state rules that specifically excluded coverag…
(2018-10-11). Oops — Did Police Accidentally Reveal Unconstitutional Surveillance When They Tweeted a Screenshot? aclu.org 
We're demanding Mass. state police release their browser history and bookmarks to see if they're targeting progressive protesters for surveillance. | On September 13, dozens of natural gas explosions hit three towns north of Boston, killing one person and impacting thousands more. In the first few hectic hours after the blasts, the Massachusetts State Police official Twitter account posted a tweet reading: | Updated plotting of confirmed fires and explosions by MSP Watch Center. 39 locations confirmed thus far. Number will grow. New responses ongoing. Reminder: all residents of Lawrence/Andover/N Andover who have…
(2018-10-10). Hey, teacher! Don't leave LGBTQ kids alone! RT debate on Virginia lockdown drill controversy. rt.com 
Trans policy or common sense? Trans lobby or trans phobia? Why is everybody treading on eggshells around LGBTQ issues, and isn't kids' safety the paramount concern? RT discussed the Virginia public school incident with experts.
(2018-10-10). US senators demand Magnitsky Act probe, sanctions on Saudi Arabia over Khashoggi disappearance. rt.com 
A group of Republican and Democrat senators united to demand an investigation into the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a consulate in Turkey. This could lead to sanctions against Saudi Arabia within 120 days.
(2018-10-10). With Hurricane Michael Barreling Down on Gulf Coast, Florida Unconstitutionally Refuses to Extend Voter Registration Deadline. aclu.org Florida is putting tens of thousands of people at risk of disenfranchisement for no good reason. | Voters should not have to risk their lives in order to register to vote. Yet, in Florida, that's exactly the position that the state has chosen to put tens of thousands of people in. Despite the state's Oct. 9 deadline to register to vote arriving amidst a looming Category 4 hurricane, Florida has refused to grant an adequate extension for Floridians to register to vote. | Hurricane Michael threatens to lash Florida with a life-threatening storm surge, maximum wind speeds of 145 mph, and flash floods. Prolonge…
(2018-10-10). Hatewatch Headlines 10/11/2018. splcenter.org The GOP wants to lock up liberal women; Georgia governor's race about voting rights; Kent State grad sticks school with bill for gun rally; and more.
(2018-10-10). Finding Sanctuary in Norway. thenation.com Finding Sanctuary in Norway…
(2018-10-10). Rashid Khalidi: From Iran to Palestine, Nikki Haley Put a Nice Face on Trump's "Horrific" U.S. Policies. democracynow.org 
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has announced she is resigning her post at the end of the year. The former South Carolina governor—one of the few women in Trump's Cabinet—gave no reason for her departure. During Nikki Haley's time as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, the United States withdrew from the Paris climate accord; the U.N. Human Rights Council; the Iran nuclear deal; UNRWA, the U.N. agency that provides humanitarian aid to Palestinians; and UNESCO, the U.N. educational and cultural agency. We speak with Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said professor of Arab studies at Columbia…
(2018-10-10). Trump Tears up Treaties Pushing for War on Iran, Using Bush-Style Iraq Lies. therealnews.com 
As the US ramps up aggression against Iran, withdrawing from agreements and imposing crippling sanctions, Iranians fear Trump and the neocons he surrounded himself with want war — and are echoing Bush-era Iraq "WMD" lies to justify it
(2018-10-10). Trump Tears up Treaties Pushing for War on Iran, Using Bush-Style Iraq Lies. therealnews.com As the US ramps up aggression against Iran, withdrawing from agreements and imposing crippling sanctions, Iranians fear Trump and the neocons he surrounded himself with want war — and are echoing Bush-era Iraq "WMD" lies to justify it
(2018-10-09). Headlines for October 9, 2018. democracynow.org Hurricane Michael Kills 13 in Central America, Approaches U.S. Coast, Trump Apologizes to Kavanaugh During Ceremonial SCOTUS Swearing-In, Beijing Strikes Hostile Tone at Pompeo Visit Amid U.S.-China Tensions, China Detains Interpol Police Chief, Accusing Him of Corruption, NYT: Ex-Trump Campaign Aide Rick Gates Was In Touch with Israeli Psy-Group, Turkey Searching for Van in Case of Missing Saudi Journalist, Social Network Google+ to Shut Down After Massive Data Breach, NYC Vigil Held for Uber Driver Who Died by Suicide, Owner of Company Behind Deadly NY Limo Crash Was FBI Informant, New York Governor Cuomo, Pres…
(2018-10-09). On the far right, neo-Nazis, racists hail Brett Kavanaugh's elevation to Supreme Court as open season on women, minority rights in America. splcenter.org To neo-Nazi-in-hiding Andrew Anglin, the elevation of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court is a milestone, one that he hopes will result in an end to women's rights across the country.
(2018-10-09). Trump Administration Seeks to Stifle Protests Near White House and on National Mall. aclu.org 
A government proposal mirrors Trump's hostility to the First Amendment. | President Trump has a record of attacking the rights of protesters, from suggesting that protest be illegal to praising dictators who crush any kind of dissent. | Now, the Trump administration (2018-10-06). Statement on Kavanaugh Senate Confirmation. naacp.org NAACP President Calls Kavanaugh Confirmation "Devasting Blow" Move Signals Dark Days Ahead for Civil Rights Communities — America Deserves Better BALTIMORE (October 6, 2018)—NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson released the following remarks regarding the Senate confirmation of nominee Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. The U.S. Senate's decision today to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme […]
(2018-10-05). Eve Ensler: Nobel Peace Prize for Mukwege & Murad Is an Award for Every Rape Survivor in the World. democracynow.org 
After a landmark year for the "Me Too" movement, which ignited an international conversation on sexual assault, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded Friday morning to two champions of women's rights who have built their careers fighting sexual violence: physician Denis Mukwege and human rights activist Nadia Murad. Dr. Denis Mukwege founded the Panzi Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1999. The clinic receives thousands of women each year, many of them requiring surgery as a result of sexual violence. Nadia Murad is a 25-year-old Yazidi Kurdish human rights activist from Iraq. She was kidnapped and held…