(2019-01-09). Bernie Sanders Responds to Trump's Border Wall Address, Debunking President's Lies About Immigration. democracynow.org 
After Donald Trump addressed the nation Tuesday in a speech that attacked immigrants and demanded a border wall, Sen. Bernie Sanders called out the president for lying to the American people and creating a false crisis at the border. We speak with Oscar Chacón, executive director of Alianza Americas, an immigrant rights group based in Chicago.
(2019-01-09). Military personnel, relatives tortured in Venezuela: HRW. aljazeera.com New report says detainees were strangled, deprived of food and had the soles of their feet cut with razor blades.
(2019-01-09). "A Racist, Xenophobic Attack": Immigrant Rights Activist Decries Trump Remarks About Southern Border. democracynow.org 
President Donald Trump addressed the nation Tuesday night in his first prime-time speech from the Oval Office. He urged Congress to approve $5.7 billion to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, but he opted not to declare a national emergency to force construction of the wall, in a xenophobic speech riddled with falsehoods. We speak with Oscar Chacón, executive director of Alianza Americas, an immigrant rights group based in Chicago.
(2019-01-09). Mozambique Ex-Minister Faces Fraud Charge Extradition Hearing. telesurenglish.net Mozambique's former Finance Minister Manuel Chang's legal team argued Tuesday that his detention in South Africa, related to a US$2 billion of fraudulent loans, is illegal and demanded his release. | RELATED: | Mozambique: China Helps Fund US$2.7B Railway Coal Project | Chang, who denied any wrongdoing, in court, has been detained in South Africa since Dec. 29 as part of a United States case involving several arrests made in London and New York and eventually stretching to Mozambique.
(2019-01-09). Multifaceted Attack Against Venezuela on Eve of Maduro Inauguration. counterpunch.org Venezuelan President Nicholás Maduro's inauguration for his second term on January 10 is targeted by the US, the allied Lima Group, and the hardline Venezuelan opposition. They have demanded that Maduro refuse inauguration. A multifaceted attack aimed at regime change is underway using sanctions, military threats, and a campaign of delegitimization to replace the democratically elected More
(2019-01-09). Iraq: Children Tortured in Kurdish Jails, Activist Group Says. telesurenglish.net Human Rights Watch (HRW) report stated that security forces in Kurdish regions of Iraq have been and continue to torture children in order to gain confessions regarding links to ISIS. | RELATED: | Iraqi Lawmakers Demand Vote to Expel US Military | The report is based on interviews conducted with 20 boys between the ages of 14 and 17 who have either been charged or conv…
(2019-01-09). US Snatches Chinese Executive — Sets Dangerous Precedent. "Trying to Provoke, Humiliate China" globalresearch.ca Claiming that prominent Chinese telecommunications company Huawei had violated US sanctions on Iran — Canada was requested to arrest and hand over Huawei Chief Financial Officer, Meng Wanzhou, who was transferring planes in Vancouver. | The arrest was described even …
(2019-01-09). William Barr Helped Build America's Surveillance State. aclu.org Senators should ask Barr about his support for unconstitutional spying that endangers our rights. | William Barr, President Trump's nominee for attorney general, has a history of getting it wrong. From designing warrantless surveillance programs to justifying the president's power to disregard acts of Congress, Barr has advanced dubious legal theories that have been rejected by the courts, Congress, and the public. | As Barr begins the confirmation process, senators must question Barr on his record regarding the right to privacy and the Fourth Amendment — which raises serious concerns about his suitability…
(2019-01-09). Chicano leader blasts Trump's racist, anti-immigrant speech. fightbacknews.org Los Angeles, CA — Longtime Chicano and immigrant rights leader Carlos Montes condemned President Trump's January 8 Oval Office speech, stating, "We are opposed to Trump's attacks on refugees at the border – and his wall. We will continue to oppose his measures, and build the movement to dump Trump." | Trump's push to further militarize the U.S. border has resulted in a prolonged partial government shutdown. | The Los Angeles community organization, Centro CSO, has called for a January 9 bannering in the Boyle Heights neighborhood, at the corner of 4th and Soto, from 4 to 6 p.m.
(2019-01-09). Stranded Migrants Disembark in Malta After EU Deal Reached. telesurenglish.net Nearly 50 migrants stranded at sea for weeks aboard two rescue ships arrived in Malta on Wednesday after the island nation reached a deal with other EU member states, ending a standoff that rights groups branded "shameful." | RELATED: | Pope Urges EU Leaders to Show Solidarity to Migrants off Malta | "An ad hoc agreement has been reached," Malta Prime Min…
(2019-01-09). Immigrant Rights Activist Decries Trump Remarks About Southern Border. truthout.org President Donald Trump addressed the nation Tuesday night in his first prime-time speech from the Oval Office. He urged Congress to approve $5.7 billion to build a wall on the US-Mexico border, but he opted not to declare a national emergency to force construction of the wall, in a xenophobic speech riddled with falsehoods. We speak with Oscar Chacón, executive director of Alianza Americas, an immigrant rights group based in Chicago. | Transcript: | JUAN GONZÁLEZ: President Donald Trump addressed the nation Tuesday night in his first prime-time speech from the Oval Office. He urged Congre…
(2019-01-09). Venezuela: Suspected Plotters Tortured. hrw.org 
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(2019-01-09). Tiffany and Co. Announces New Diamond Transparency. hrw.org 
| Starting today, Tiffany and Co. will begin sharing the origins of its diamonds with its customers, setting a new level of transparency among large jewelry retailers. As part of this welcome initiative, all of Tiffany's stores will now provide the country or region of origin for all newly-sourced diamonds above .18 carat. It's now time for others in the industry to do the same. | Transparency is the first step to improve human rights in a supply chain. When I shop i…
(2019-01-09). Wall Can't Fix Problems at Southern US Border. hrw.org 
| | View of a part of the Benito Juarez stadium in Tijuana, Mexico, November 25, 2018. | © 2018 Jonathan Pedneault/Human Rights Watch | In his speech to the American public on Tuesday night, President Donald Trump put forward a nonsensical argument that the construction of some kind of barrier on the US-Mexico border would fix an incredible range of wildly exaggerated problems. There is a crisis on the border and throughout the…
(2019-01-09). Rally: Shut Guantanamo and Prosecute John "Torturer" Yoo. indybay.org UC Berkeley Law School…
(2019-01-09). Clarifying RV Dwellers Rights in Santa Cruz. indybay.org 150 Center St. Fountain area of the Santa Cruz Police Department…
(2019-01-09). First-Ever Indigenous Peoples March Will Fight Against Injustices Faced Across the Globe. commondreams.org Raising alarm about human rights violations and the global climate crisis, activists from around the world are traveling to Washington, D.C. for the first annual Indigenous Peoples March, which will kick off at 8am local time on Jan. 18 outside the U.S. Department of the Interior's main building. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files……
(2019-01-09). Voted Down on Tuesday Night, McConnell Raises Alarm by Forcing Second Vote on 'Unconstitutional' Anti-Boycott Bill. commondreams.org "When was the last time the Senate voted twice in less than 24 hours to consider the same bill? They're doing it right now on S.1, a bill to authorize $38 billion in weapons for Israel and encourage states to deny contracts to people who support boycotts for Palestinian rights." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files……
(2019-01-08). For the First Time Since 9/11, There are a Few Hopeful Signs in the Preemptive Prosecutions of Muslims. counterpunch.org I have been studying the prosecution of Muslims in the "war on terror" since 2006, and the courts have been consistently and resoundingly unfair. Constitutional protections under the First Amendment; Fourth Amendment (illegal wiretapping); Fifth Amendment (tortured confessions); Sixth Amendment (secret evidencegiven to the judge but not the defense, anonymous witnesses), and Eighth Amendment (long More
(2019-01-08). Rashida Tlaib: The Senate's Anti-BDS Bill Is an Unconstitutional Attack on Free Speech. democracynow.org 
A new Senate bill would allow state and local governments to boycott any U.S. companies which are engaged in a boycott against Israel. We speak with Congressmember Rashida Tlaib, who has come out out against the bill, tweeting, "They forgot what country they represent. This is the U.S. where boycotting is a right & part of our historical fight for freedom & equality. Maybe a refresher on our U.S. Constitution is in order, then get back to opening up our government instead of taking our rights away."
(2019-01-08). In Speech Tonight, Trump Won't Talk About the Real Crisis — Asylum Seekers Being Denied Rights Under U.S. Law. splcenter.org We expect President Trump's speech tonight to be filled with more falsehoods demonizing migrants who are seeking refuge.
(2019-01-08). Twenty-two deaths reported in immigrant detention centers since Trump took office. wsws.org A review of the circumstances leading to the death of each person in ICE custody reveals that nearly all died as the result of criminal neglect or abuse.
(2019-01-08). Anti-BDS Bill Slammed as 'Absurd' Amid US Government Shutdown Crisis. theantimedia.com 
(MEE) — A US Senate measure encouraging states and local governments to "divest" from companies that boycott Israel has stirred controversy in Washington, with civil rights groups rallying against the proposal and Senator Bernie Sanders slamming it as "absurd". The measure, presented in a wider Middle East foreign policy bill, was introduced last week amidst a …
(2019-01-08). Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Detained Children Tortured. hrw.org 
| | Exterior of the Women and Children's Reformatory in Erbil, where several dozen children are held in pre-trial detention or are serving sentences for alleged ISIS affiliation. | © 2018 Jo Becker/Human Rights Watch | (Beirut) — The Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq is torturing children to confess to involvement with the Islamic State (ISIS), Human Rights Watch said today. | Children told Human Rights Watch tha…
(2019-01-08). Australia Starts Tackling Modern Slavery. hrw.org 
| | Women work in the sewing division of a factory in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital. Women constitute about 90 percent of the workforce in Cambodia's garment industry, which produces for many international apparel brands. Human Rights Watch has documented that workers in Cambodia frequently experience forced overtime, pregnancybased discrimination, and denial of paid maternity leave.
| © 2014 Samer Muscati/Human Rights Watch | A new law in Australia requires companies of a certain size operating in Australia to pu…
(2019-01-08). Too anti-Israel? Birmingham institute abruptly revokes Angela Davis' civil rights award. rt.com 
Alabama-based Birmingham Civil Rights Institute has changed its mind about honoring civil rights activist Angela Davis, without much of an explanation. Critics are pointing to Davis's positions on Israel and Palestine for clues.
(2019-01-08). 1.4 Million Floridians Get Their Voting Rights Back Today, Whether Republicans Like It or Not. theintercept.com Some Florida Republicans, including Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis, have sought to sow confusion about the validity of Amendment 4, which goes into effect Tuesday.
(2019-01-07). Ari Berman: Dems Introduce Sweeping Voting Rights Bill to Combat Rampant Voter Suppression. democracynow.org 
Voting rights activists are hailing a new House bill that aims to restore voting rights to millions, crack down on the influence of dark money in politics, restore the landmark Voting Rights Act, establish automatic and same-day voter registration and other measures. The bill has been dubbed the For the People Act. It is the first piece of legislation introduced by the new Democratic majority in the House. We speak with Ari Berman, senior writer at Mother Jones, reporting fellow at The Nation Institute and author of "Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America." His latest piece is titled…
(2019-01-07). Lee Carter's Campaign for Labor Rights in Virginia Is Important for All Working Americans. thenation.com Lee Carter's Campaign for Labor Rights in Virginia Is Important for All Working Americans…
(2019-01-07). Egypt: Little Truth in Al-Sisi's '60 Minutes' Responses. hrw.org 
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(2019-01-07). China's Xinjiang Tour Should Have Fooled No One. hrw.org 
| | Officials unveil a new political education camp in Bayingolin, Xinjiang. | © Yuli County, Xinjiang | China's authorities recently escorted diplomats from a dozen countries and a handful of foreign journalists on a highly controlled visit to Xinjiang, the northwestern region where an estimated one million Turkic Muslims are being arbitrarily and indefinitely detaine…
(2019-01-07). See No Evil: Pentagon Issues Blanket Denial That It Knows Anything About Detainee Abuse in Yemen. theintercept.com A U.N. panel found that detainees in prisons controlled by U.S. allies were beaten, electrocuted, hung upside down, and raped.
(2019-01-05). DR Congo: Voter Suppression, Violence. hrw.org 
| | A polling official counts votes in a school in Kinshasa after the Democratic Republic of Congo's general elections, December 30, 2018. | © 2018 Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images | (Kinshasa) — Widespread irregularities, voter suppression, and violence significantly marred elections on December 30, 2018 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Election officials should ensure that the announced results in the presidential, legislative, and provincial elec…
(2019-01-05). U.S. Senate's First Bill, in the Midst of the Shutdown, Is a Bipartisan Defense of the Israeli Government From Boycotts. theintercept.com Attacks on the free speech rights of Americans in the name of defending Israel seem to have no end in sight.
(2019-01-04). Christmas in Tornillo: Activists, Lawmakers Demand Trump Shut Down Prison Camp for Migrant Children. democracynow.org 
As the government shutdown heads into its 14th day and Trump doubles down on his demands for a border wall, we turn to look at the ongoing crisis unfolding at the U.S. border and the protesters on the ground fighting back. In West Texas, immigrant rights activists are staging daily actions to shut down the Tornillo prison camp, where thousands of immigrant youth are being detained. The organizers call themselves the "Christmas in Tornillo" occupation. On New Year's Eve, they shut down the entrance of the sprawling prison camp, where 2,300 children are being held in more than 150 tents. We speak with Juan Ortiz, i…
(2019-01-04). Headlines for January 4, 2019. democracynow.org 116th Congress Sworn In as Nancy Pelosi Elected House Speaker, House Democrats Adopt PAYGO Austerity Spending Rule, House Democrats Approve New Ethics Rules, Form Climate Committee, Trump Repeats Border Wall Demands as Gov't Shutdown Enters 14th Day, Trump Admin Wants to Send More Troops to U.S.-Mexico Border, Brazil: President's Assault on Indigenous Rights Threatens Amazon, Mexico: Mayor Assassinated Hours After Taking Office, Trump Administration Threatens Iran over Its Space Program, Former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke Faces Criminal Inquiry, Google Uses "Double Irish Dutch Sandwich" Scheme to Avoid Taxes, P…
(2019-01-04). Rhode Island Supreme Court Allows Unfairly Shut Down Strip Club to Reopen. aclu.org Providence's licensing board, we argue, violated the club's rights when it was shut down based solely on allegations of solicitation of prostitution. | Imagine a symphony orchestra barred by the state from performing again because a musician was found to have sold marijuana to a colleague backstage. Imagine a bookstore being shuttered by the government because peace activists planned acts of civil disobedience in a backroom. Imagine a movie theater permanently closed because an employee assaulted a patron. | In Providence, Rhode Island, you don't have to imagine it, because it happened to a strip club c…
(2019-01-04). Top Human Rights Tweets of the Week. hrw.org Trending rights tweets this week: Netflix agreed to censor a comedy episode because Saudi Arabia complained about it; powerful film showing China's detention of upwards of one million Uighur Muslims for forced indoctrination; the Democratic Republic of Congo's elections marred by systemic irregularities; and everyday people who inspired HRW in 2018.
(2019-01-03). On Her Shoulders: Stunning Film Follows Nobel Peace Winner Nadia Murad's Fight to End Sexual Violence. democracynow.org 
We look at the remarkable story of Nadia Murad, the Yazidi human rights activist from Iraq who was recently awarded the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize. Murad was kidnapped by the Islamic State in 2014 and repeatedly raped as she was held in captivity. After managing to escape, Murad fled Iraq and has dedicated her life to drawing international attention to the plight of the Yazidi people. The documentary "On Her Shoulders" follows Murad as she shares her story with the world. The documentary has been shortlisted for an Academy Award for Best Documentary and recently received the Columbia Journalism duPont Award. We speak…
(2019-01-03). Headlines for January 3, 2019. democracynow.org Democrats Take Back House with Historic Firsts, Dems to Vote on Contested PAYGO Rule, Which Restricts Gov't Spending, Dems to Vote on Plan That Funds Gov't Without Border Wall Funding, Shutdown Takes Toll on on Native American Communities, Trump Takes Aim at Mattis, Praises Kim Jong-un in Cabinet Meeting, Trump Takes Takes Credit for Markets, China Trade Relations, India: 2 Women Enter Hindu Temple After Centuries of Denied Access for Women, Mali: Gunmen Kill 37 Civilians Amid Mounting Ethnic Tensions, Russia: U.S. Citizen Detained on Espionage Charges, Chinese Probe Lands on Far Side of Moon in Historic First, N…
(2019-01-02). As the 115th Congress Ends, Here Are the Important Civil Rights Battles We've Won. aclu.org During the last two years of Trump, ACLU activists have won fights ranging from advancing criminal justice reforms to stopping border wall funding. | The past two years have been challenging times, as we have witnessed attacks on our shared values and civil rights from the Trump White House and a Republican-dominated Congress. It can sometimes feel difficult to make change happen, but even in this hostile climate, ACLU activists helped drive key legislative victories to advance civil liberties during the 115th Congress, which ends on Thursday. As the new Congress is sworn in on Thursday, these victories should re…
(2019-01-01). Four Days in Occupied Western Sahara—A Rare Look Inside Africa's Last Colony. democracynow.org 
In this special rebroadcast of a Democracy Now! exclusive documentary, we break the media blockade and go to occupied Western Sahara in the northwest of Africa to document the decades-long Sahrawi struggle for freedom and Morocco's violent crackdown. Morocco has occupied the territory since 1975 in defiance of the United Nations and the international community. Thousands have been tortured, imprisoned, killed and disappeared while resisting the Moroccan occupation. A 1,700-mile wall divides Sahrawis who remain under occupation from those who fled into exile. The international media has largely ignored the occupat…
(2018-12-31). An Extraordinary Year for Civil Rights. naacp.org This was an extraordinary year for the NAACP. From building more political power in communities of color to fighting to protect the federal bench from those who have a record of purposefully harming our communities, we've had great successes—and it was your support that made it all happen. Here's a look at what we did […]
(2018-12-31). UAE: Rights Defender's Conviction Upheld. hrw.org 
| | Ahmed Mansoor speaks to Reuters in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 30, 2011. | © 2011 Reuters | The United Arab Emirates Federal Supreme Court, the country's court of last resort in state security cases, on December 31, 2018, upheld a 10-year sentence for Ahmed Mansoor, an award-winning human rights activist, Human Rights Watch said today. | In May, an Abu Dhabi court sentenced Mansoor to 10 years in prison for "defaming" the UAE on s…
(2018-12-31). Bahrain: Rights Defender's Conviction Upheld. hrw.org 
| | Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab arrives for his appeal hearing at court in Manama, February 11, 2015. | © 2015 Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters | (Beirut) — The Bahrain Court of Cassation, the country's court of last resort, on December 31, 2018 upheld a five-year sentence for Nabeel Rajab, a prominent human rights defender, Human Rights Watch said today. | The sentence arose from comments criticizing torture in a Bahrain prison and the Saudi-…
(2018-12-24). UN Members Thwart China's Bid to Gut Funds for Myanmar Probe. hrw.org 
| | Smoke is seen rising from Burma's Taung Pyo Let War village from across the border in Bangladesh. | | © 2017 Private | United Nations member countries thwarted an attempt by China to slash proposed funding for investigations into Myanmar's ethnic cleansing campaign against Rohingya Muslims. This ensures that a newly established UN body will have the necessary financing to gather and preserve criminal evidence for future trials. | After marathon negotiations — during which China called for cutting the propos…
(2018-12-23). Iraq/Kurdistan Region: Risk of Double Trials for ISIS Ties. hrw.org 
| | Cigarette burns cover the hands and arms of 18-year-old "Karim." Kurdish authorities held him for 13 months. He then returned home and was rearrested by authorities under Baghdad's control, who tortured and held him for months. | © 2018 San Saravan | (Beirut) — Sunni Arab boys who serve prison time in Iraq's Kurdistan region for Islamic State (also known as ISIS) connections risk rearrest after their release if they try to reunite with their families…
(2018-12-21). #SaveHakeem — Stop deportation of Bahraini refugee. greenleft.org.au 
Bahraini refugee Hakeem Al-Araibi has been held in detention in Thailand since November 27, facing the terrifying prospect of deportation to the country where he was tortured. | Al-Araibi fled to Australia in 2014 and was accepted as a refugee. In November, he travelled on UN travel documents to Thailand for a short holiday with his wife. When he arrived at Bangkok airport, Al-Araibi was arrested under an Interpoll "Red Notice" (an international arrest warrant) issued by the Bahrain government. | Interpol is not meant to issue red notices for refugees, so this red notice should never have been issued for Al-Araib…
(2018-12-19). ALP National Conference a sham. greenleft.org.au 
Bill Shorten surprised no one with his laughingly tiny reforms at the Australian Labor Party National Conference over December 16—18. | If you expected debate, let alone proposals to stop the Adani coalmine or refugee boat turn-backs or the closure of off-shore detention centres, then you would have been disappointed as these things did not happen. | If you were hoping that there might be a commitment to increase the Newstart Allowance or to back progressive industrial relations reforms that will actually change the rules for workers, you would be doubly disappointed as these things were also rejected. | Cl…
(2018-12-14). Every Single Member of US Congress Approved Crushing Sanctions on Nicaragua. grayzoneproject.com After defeating a violent US-backed coup attempt, Nicaragua's elected government faces the NICA Act. The bill aims to force the…