Daily Archives: March 13, 2019

2019-03-13: News Headlines

teleSUR (2019-03-13). IACHR Denies Precautionary Measures Raised by Assange. telesurenglish.net The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has closed the request for precautionary measures requested by the founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, so he will have to continue complying with the new rules on his asylum imposed by Ecuador, said the Andean country's Attorney General. | RELATED: | Julian Assange's Lawyers Blocked From The Ecuadorean Embassy | Assange's lawyers asked for the measures before the IACHR arguing the existence of "a potential risk" to his situation in t…

Gabriel Hetland (2019-03-13). Venezuela's Deadly Blackout Highlights the Need for a Negotiated Resolution of the Crisis. thenation.com Venezuela's Deadly Blackout Highlights the Need for a Negotiated Resolution of the Crisis…

Telesur (2019-03-13). US Congressmen Introduce Bill to Prohibit US Courts from Recognizing Cuban Trademarks. globalresearch.ca Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) presented a bill on Tuesday before the US Congress in which they seek to prohibit the official recognition and rights of Cuban trademarks in the United States. | The bipartisan and bicameral legislation, …

Shared by Hezvo Mpunga (2019-03-13). German Jewish Peace Group Wins Peace Prize; Then Attacked as being Anti-Semitic. therealnews.com Shir Hever talks about the Gà∂ttingen Peace Prize and how it transformed the debate around Palestinian rights in Germany, despite efforts by right-wing politicians to prevent the prize from being given to Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East…

Medea Benjamin (2019-03-12). How US Sanctions are Hurting Iran: A Firsthand Report. zcomm.org Trump's economic strangulation is having devastating people on the Iranian people…

Medea Benjamin (2019-03-12). How US Sanctions are Hurting Iran: A Firsthand Report. counterpunch.org On a recent delegation to Iran, we experienced first-hand the legendary Iranian hospitality. Iranians are particularly thrilled to meet Americans, but as we discovered, our government's policies are hurting the very people who want to be our friends. As our 28-person delegation traveled through the country wearing messages on our jackets proclaiming "Peace with Iran" More

teleSUR (2019-03-12). Indigenous Peoples Want Yalitza Aparicio as Peace Ambassador. telesurenglish.net Mexico's National Indigenous Governorship (GIN) Tuesday invited actress Yalitza Aparicio to be an Indigenous Peoples' Peace Ambassador because she represents "the victory of 68 native languages." | RELATED: | Oscars Joy For Cuaron And 'Roma' in Record Night | The…

teleSUR (2019-03-12). Italy Court Clears 2 Men of Rape Because Woman 'Too Manly'. telesurenglish.net Two men, who were found guilty of rape in 2016, were cleared of the charges by an appeal court in the Italian city of Ancona because the victim was "not credible," a decision that triggered a strong reaction from different organizations concerned with the defense of the rights of women who protested Monday in front of the court shortly after the news became public. | RELATED: | Italy's Far-right Celebrate Women's Day With Sexist Flyer | The judges — who were all females —…

Fight Back (2019-03-12). International Women's Day in Tampa: Fight Trump's war on women. fightbacknews.org Tampa, FL – On March 10, over a dozen Tampa community, student and labor leaders gathered at Lykes Gaslight Park for a protest against President Donald Trump's anti-woman agenda. Since coming into office, Trump has led an all-out assault on women's rights, including defunding abortion services, erasing sections of Title IX that protect women from sexual assault and discrimination, and locking asylum-seeking women and children in cages in the southwestern United States. In the spirit of the women's marches that occurred in response to Trump's inauguration, protesters chanted "Pro-life is a lie, you don't care if p…

Fight Back (2019-03-12). New York City rallies for International Women's Day. fightbacknews.org New York, NY – A crowd of over 100 protesters gathered in front of the Philippine General Consulate in New York City on March 8, in honor of International Women's Day. The action, titled "Women Rise Up, Resist, & Unite!", put focus on ending violence against women and children in the Philippines. This included opposing President Duterte's wars on drugs and the poor, as well as his remarks approving of sexual violence against women. | Along with the Philippines, speakers represented other movements that have been led by women, including labor, immigrant rights, and political repression. There were speeches about t…

Brasil de Fato (2019-03-12). Two former police officers arrested over murder of Marielle Franco and Anderson Gomes. peoplesdispatch.org Two suspects in the killing of councilwoman and human rights activist Marielle Franco and driver Anderson Gomes were arrested this morning in Rio de Janeiro, almost one year after the crime. It is still unclear, however, who ordered the assassination and the motive. | At 4: 30 a.m. local time, 48-year-old retired military police officer Ronnie Lessa and 46-year-…

Democracy Now! (2019-03-12). Headlines for March 12, 2019. democracynow.org 2020 Budget Boosts Border Wall & Military Funding, Slashes Domestic Programs, NY AG Probe Targets Deutsche Bank's Ties to Trump Org., Rep. Pelosi: Trump "Not Worth" Impeaching, Algerian Pres. Bouteflika Will Not Seek 5th Term, Delays Election, U.N.: 2018 Deadliest Year for Syrian Children, U.N.: Airstrikes in Yemen Kill 22 Women and Children, Iranian Human Rights Lawyer Sotoudeh Sentenced to 38 Years, Colombia: Indigenous Activist Killed Amid Mounting Violence, Food Stamps Cut for 1.4 Million Puerto Ricans, Fox News' Tucker Carlson Calls Iraqis "Semiliterate Primitive Monkeys" in Surfaced Recording, Increasing Ba…

teleSUR (2019-03-12). Bolsonaro's Son Dated Daughter of Marielle Franco's Killer. telesurenglish.net A link between Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's family and the Marielle Franco murder case appeared Tuesday afternoon as details emerged that one of Bolsonaro's sons fell in love with the daughter of Ronnie Lessa, who is one of the two former policemen accused of killing the leftist councilwoman and human rights activist on March 14, 2018, as reported by the local media Brasil 247. | RELATED: | Brazil: 2 Former Police Arrested in Marielle Franco Murder | This fact came to light…

teleSUR (2019-03-12). Brazil: 2 Former Police Arrested in Marielle Franco Murder. telesurenglish.net Two former policemen were captured Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro as suspects in the murder of Marielle Franco, a councilwoman and human rights activist who was shot on Mar. 14, 2018. | RELATED: | Bolsonaro's Son Linked to Suspect of Marielle Franco's Murder | "Two police officers were arrested with a direct and effective participation in the crime," Marcus Vinicius Braga, Rio de Janeiro state police secretary, said and added that "with the these arrests, we get close to solving the cr…

Patrick Cockburn (2019-03-12). The Political Class's Disregard for Irish Life. counterpunch.org The families of the 13 innocent people shot dead by the Parachute Regiment when they took part in a civil rights march against internment without trial in Londonderry in 1972 will learn in the coming week if soldiers, who are alleged to have carried out the killings, will be prosecuted. There is no doubt about More

Ricardo Vaz (2019-03-12). Venezuela: Electricity Recovery Continues as US Withdraws Diplomatic Staff. venezuelanalysis.com US officials have threatened new sanctions while Venezuelan authorities continue reactivating the electric grid.

teleSUR (2019-03-12). Lavrov: US Sanction Against Russian Company Violates Int'l Law. telesurenglish.net U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is criminalizing Russian companies for doing business with the Venezuelan state, saying they are violated U.S. imposed sanctions by making transactions with Venezuela's sanctioned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA). | RELATED: | US Presses India to Stop Buying Oil from Venezuela | In a Monday press conference Pompeo said that the assets of Evrofinance Mosnarbank, a Russia-Venezuel…

teleSUR (2019-03-12). US Congressmen Introduce Bill Against Cuban Trademarks. telesurenglish.net Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) presented a bill on Tuesday before the US Congress in which they seek to prohibit the official recognition and rights of Cuban trademarks in the United States. | RELATED: | Cuban Trade Minister Visits Algeria to Develop Joint Projects | The bipa…

Adam Lee (2019-03-12). NAACP-Opposed judicial nominee coming up this week. naacp.org President Trump has nominated Ms. Neomi Rao to serve as a judge on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. Ms. Rao has an extraordinarily long record of hostility to the rights of people of color and other historically marginalized people. The NAACP is strongly opposed to this nomination, which may come before the full Senate for …

Shared by Jocelyn Dombroski (2019-03-12). Is ICE Trying to Intimidate Anti-Trump and Anti-ICE Protest? therealnews.com An investigation published in The Nation discovered that ICE has been tracking anti-Trump and anti-ICE protests in New York City. Activists find this especially disturbing in light of ICE's effort to deport immigration rights activist Ravi Ragbir…

ACLU (2019-03-12). Banning Trans Girls From School Sports Is Neither Feminist Nor Legal. aclu.org Policing what it means to be a girl harms all girls. | Andraya Yearwood, a junior at Cromwell High School in Connecticut, recently finished second in the 55-meter dash at the state open indoor track championships. But instead of well-deserved accolades from her community, she now finds her achievements being publicly challenged — simply because she is transgender. | There is a long legacy of sex discrimination in athletics. Myths, such as the idea that physical exertion would harm wom…

Jon Queally, staff writer (2019-03-12). Arrest of Alleged Assassins Doesn't Answer Key Question of Marielle Franco Case: Who Ordered Murder of Brazilian Left-Wing Politician? commondreams.org The arrest on Tuesday of two individuals alleged to be the gunmen who assassinated Brazilian politician and activist Marielle Franco and her driver nearly one year ago is being heralded as progress by human rights campaigners even as they warn this should be seen as the beginning of accountability and justice for the murders, not the end. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

Democracy Now! (2019-03-11). Headlines for March 11, 2019. democracynow.org Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Crashes, Killing All 157 On Board, Judge Jails Chelsea Manning For Refusing to Testify About WikiLeaks, Trump to Request $8.6 Billion for Border Wall in 2020 Budget, 1000s More Could Join ACLU Lawsuit over Trump Family Separation Policy, House Passes Election Reform Act Despite GOP Resistance, NYT Report Contradicts U.S. Claim That Maduro Responsible for "Aid" Convoy Fire, Guaidó to Declare Emergency as NYT Reports U.S. Sanctions Exacerbate Blackout, Netanyahu: "Israel Is Not a State of All Its Citizens", Gaza: Israeli Forces Shoot Palestinian Protesters, Killing 1, Fox Host Under Fi…

Aba Blankson (2019-03-11). NAACP 110th Convention Mobilizing in Detroit. naacp.org NAACP 110th Convention Mobilizing in Detroit Thousands Expected to Join in Setting NAACP 2020 Agenda Fighting Racism and Defending the Vote, Among Key Issues to be Discussed BALTIMORE (March 8, 2019) — The nation's foremost civil rights organization will kick off its 110th national convention on July 20-24, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. "In a country shaped by race relations, pollution and polarizing political struggles, Detroit stands out as the …

kathy_f (2019-03-11). Rally opposes Christmas Island plan. greenleft.org.au About 80 people attended a rally called by the Refugee Action Collective on March 2 to protest against the Australian government's plan to reopen the detention centre on Christmas Island and send refugees from Manus Island and Nauru there. | The rally heard Shamindan Kanapadhi, a Tamil refugee on Manus, speak by phone about the conditions there, including inadequate medical care. He said "all of us on Manus are mentally sick," because of the inhumane and humiliating treatment to which they are subject. | Rally co-chair Tara Josem read a message from David Price, the CEO of Christmas Island shire, who said th…

Eds. (2019-03-09). A Lakota historian on what climate organizers can learn from two centuries of indigenous resistance. mronline.org NICK ESTES DID not intend to write a book about Standing Rock. He was working on his dissertation about Indigenous rights at the United Nations when the movement against the Dakota Access pipeline exploded on the edge of one of the 16 northern Plains Indian reservations of the Oceti Sakowin people, known by the U.S. […] | Source

stuart_m (2019-03-09). US women footballers go to court for pay equality. greenleft.org.au United States football (soccer) players filed a federal gender discrimination lawsuit on International Women's Day on March 8 seeking pay equal to that of their male counterparts. | The action comes just three months before the women's national team will defend its title at the Women's World Cup. | The class-action lawsuit was filed today in a Los Angeles federal court under the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. It alleges gender-based discrimination by the US Football Federation. | The players allege they have been subject to ongoing "institutionalised gender discrimination". This includes une…

Fight Back (2019-03-08). International Women's Day 2019: We have had enough of Trump and the war on women. fightbacknews.org Enough is enough. Trump, his administration, and his backers are waging war on women, and millions of women are making it clear that we are not going to be pushed backwards. From the massive Women's Marches, to the midterm elections, to the constant, everyday resistance, women are standing up against Trump's reactionary agenda. | Trump and his supporters in the Senate want to pack the Supreme Court and roll back reproductive rights, and they have gotten a start by appointing the drunken misogynist Brett Kavanaugh. Accompanying the administrations outrageous policy of placing immigrants in detention, Trump's Justi…

Rachel Johnson (2019-03-08). NAACP Commends House Passage of For the People Act — H.R. 1 Election Reform Bill. naacp.org Contact: Malik Russell /mrussell@naacpnet.org BALTIMORE (March 8, 2019)—The nation's leading civil rights organization issued the following statement regarding today's passage of groundbreaking election reform bill For the People Act/H.R. 1 by the U.S. House of Representatives. "The For the People Act represents a powerful effort to reinforce the truest principles of our democracy and pushes …

ACLU (2019-03-08). A Federal Appeals Court Confirms That the Constitution Guarantees Immigrants Access to Courts. aclu.org In a landmark decision, a federal appeals court struck down a law limiting judicial review of expedited removal orders as unconstitutional. | In a major decision on Thursday, a federal appeals court held that immigrants are entitled to seek judicial review of their "expedited removal" orders in federal court. This decision is a significant step towards ensuring that vulnerable asylum seekers and others will get a fair shot to prove their claims that our immigration laws and the U.S. Constitution guarantee. | Vijayakumar Th…

splcenter (2019-03-08). Weekend Read: Why is racism still America's biggest problem? splcenter.org It rained on marchers from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965, and it rained on them again last weekend as they commemorated the day when police beat civil rights marchers so badly that the date became known the nation over as Bloody Sunday.

susan_p (2019-03-08). HDP women candidates: 'We will govern our cities and ourselves'. greenleft.org.au Local government elections in Turkey will be on March 31. | The government of Recep Tayyip Erdoƒüan removed more than 80 of 103 elected mayors representing the Kurdish-led People's Democratic Party (HDP) from office and replaced them with government-appointed administrators, or trustees, as part of its crack down on the HDP for its alleged ties to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). | The HDP is campaigning to win back most municipalities, especially in the provinces of Diyarbakƒ±r…

Shared by Hezvo Mpunga (2019-03-08). Parents, Civil Rights Groups Sue Maryland For Underfunding Public Schools. therealnews.com The State of Maryland is facing fresh allegations of failing to adequately fund majority black schools, according to a brief jointly filed by parents, American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland and NAACP Legal Defense fund on Thursday, March 7.

Shared by Jocelyn Dombroski (2019-03-08). End Venezuela Sanctions Says Rep. Ro Khanna and 15 Progressive Democrats. therealnews.com 16 progressive members of Congress sent a letter to the Trump administration, demanding an end to economic sanctions and to military threats against Venezuela. We speak to Rep. Ro Khanna, who led the initiative…

ACLU (2019-03-07). The Government Is Detaining and Interrogating Journalists and Advocates at the US-Mexico Border. aclu.org DHS created a list of people who were reporting on or working with the migrant caravan to flag for lengthy questioning at the U.S. border. | In what looks like a coordinated attack on constitutional rights, the U.S. government has reportedly been targeting journalists, activists, and lawyers working to raise awareness of issues facing migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. | On Wednesday, the NBC affiliate in San Diego revealed leaked docu…

Democracy Now! (2019-03-07). U.S. Has Supplied UAE $27B in Arms Despite Nation's Links to Torture, Mercenaries & Child Soldiers. democracynow.org We look at how U.S. weapons are supporting the ongoing devastation in Yemen with William Hartung, director of the Arms and Security Project at the Center for International Policy. He is the author of a new report about the role the United Arab Emirates has played in Yemen. It is titled "'Little Sparta': The United States-United Arab Emirates Alliance and the War in Yemen." We also speak with Ruhan Nagra, the executive director of the University Network for Human Rights, and Radhya Al-Mutawakel, chairperson of the Mwatana Organization for Human Rights. They recently published an investigation into the role of U.S.

Democracy Now! (2019-03-07). Andrew Bacevich: The U.S.-Saudi Relationship Is a Principal Source of Instability in the Middle East. democracynow.org We look at a number of recent developments in U.S.-Saudi relations, a day after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a confirmation hearing for retired four-star general John Abizaid to become U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia. On Monday, the Trump administration gave a private briefing to senators on the investigation into the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October. Senators slammed the briefing for providing no new information. Meanwhile, The New York Times has revealed new details about the jailing and torture of a doctor with…

Democracy Now! (2019-03-07). War Crimes in Yemen? U.S. & U.K. Arms Killed & Injured Nearly 1,000 Civilians in Saudi-Led Attack. democracynow.org As Yemen faces the world's worst humanitarian crisis, a major new report has been released documenting the role that the U.S. and Europe have played in the deaths of hundreds of civilians in the Saudi- and UAE-led war on Yemen. A group of organizations, including a Yemen-based human rights organization, released the damning report on Wednesday, claiming that between April 2015 and April 2018, 27 coalition attacks killed at least 203 civilians and injured at least 749 people. The report found that 22 of the attacks likely involved weapons produced in the United States. The other five attacks were carried out eithe…

Aba Blankson (2019-03-07). NAACP Joins NABJ in Criticism of CNN's Lack of Diversity in Leadership Positions. naacp.org Civil Rights Group Voices Concerns over Diversity Failure to CNN BALTIMORE — The nation's foremost civil rights organization issued the following response to CNN President Jeff Zucker's refusal to address the lack of diversity in leadership positions: "It is vital that news organizations reflect the diversity of our country, which includes people of color in …

splcenter (2019-03-07). SPLC joins civil rights groups in friend-of-the-court brief urging Supreme Court to uphold fair, non-partisan redistricting principles. splcenter.org The U.S. Supreme Court this month will hear oral arguments in two cases that will test the court's readiness to tackle the issue of partisan gerrymandering.

Shared by Jocelyn Dombroski (2019-03-07). UN Commission Report Accuses Israel of War Crimes in Gaza. therealnews.com International law professor Kevin Jon Heller discusses the report of the UN Human Rights Council, which says Israel must be held accountable for war crimes committed against unarmed civilians and that Israeli courts do not hold them accountable…

splcenter (2019-03-06). As National Socialist Movement Falls Into Disarray, League of the South, Neo-Nazi Billy Roper Seek To Pick Off Members. splcenter.org After a black civil rights advocate took over the neo-Nazi National Socialist Movement (NSM), Kynan Dutton had enough.

ACLU (2019-03-06). Kirstjen Nielsen Continues to Insist That There Is No Family Separation Policy. aclu.org During her congressional testimony, Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen dodged questions about her department's vicious border policies. | Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen testified on Wednesday before the House Committee on Homeland Security, just days after the House passed a resolution to overturn President Trump's emergency declaration on the border wall. | Nielsen has helped Trump push lies and fabrications about the supposed security crisis at the border, when in fact the only crisis…

Regan Farley (2019-03-05). NAACP Calls for Justice in Stephon Clark Case. naacp.org Joins Sacramento Branch in Condemning DA's Failure to Charge Police Officers in Murder of Stephon Clark BALTIMORE (March 5, 2019)—The nation's foremost civil rights organization joins its NAACP Sacramento Branch in condemning Sacramento District Attorney Marie Schubert's decision to not charge Sacramento Police officers Terrence Mercadel and Jared Robinet with murder for the killing of …

The Jamaica Peace Council (2019-03-04). No to the Invasion of Venezuela! venezuelanalysis.com The Jamaica Peace Council (JPC) denounces the US President Donald Trump's Administration's recent sanctions — freezing of assets, acts of provocation and military aggression — against the people of Venezuela. These actions are in alarming violation of international law and the fundamental principles of human rights and national sovereignty.

Aaron Bastani (2019-03-04). The Coup in Venezuela, Explained. zcomm.org Sanctions and oil prices are to blame for the country's economic plight, while it boasts a far greater tradition of democracy than critics often realize let alone dare to admit…

splcenter (2019-03-02). Congressional, civil rights leaders gather at Civil Rights Memorial to honor movement's martyrs. splcenter.org U.S. Rep. John Lewis led a gathering of congressional and civil rights leaders in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama, today, honoring those who lost their lives in the struggle for civil rights.

Mark Weisbrot — The Nation (2019-03-01). Trump's Other 'National Emergency': Sanctions That Kill Venezuelans. venezuelanalysis.com The humanitarian crisis will get rapidly worse if the most recent sanctions continue, Mark Weisbrot argues.

Paul Dobson (2019-02-26). US Sanctions Four Venezuelan Governors as Lima Group Nixes Military Action. venezuelanalysis.com Despite Saturday's failure to force in "humanitarian aid," Pence warned that there is "no turning back."

Paul Dobson (2019-02-18). Trump Hits Venezuela with More Sanctions as US Military Planes Bring 'Aid'. venezuelanalysis.com Three USAF planes landed 8km from the Venezuelan border, allegedly carrying "humanitarian aid."

2019-03-13: Social Media Postees

2 Ex-Cops Arrested in Killing of Brazilian Politician
STAFF | truthdig.com | 2019-03-13

RIO DE JANEIRO — Authorities arrested two former police officers Tuesday in the killing of Rio de Janeiro councilwoman Marielle Franco and her driver, a brazen assassination that shocked Brazilians and sparked protests in several countries. | The arrests in Rio came two days before the anniversary of the 2018 killings. While police had questioned many people, before Tuesday nobody had been arrested or charged in the shooting of Franco, a prominent activist for Afro-Brazilian and LGBT rights. | "It was a crime against a lawmaker, a woman, exercising her democratic function who had her life taken awa…
truthdig.com/articles/2-ex-cops-arrested-in-killing-of-brazilian-politician/

IACHR Denies Precautionary Measures Raised by Assange
teleSUR | telesurenglish.net | 2019-03-13
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has closed the request for precautionary measures requested by the founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, so he will have to continue complying with the new rules on his asylum imposed by Ecuador, said the Andean country's Attorney General. | RELATED: | Julian Assange's Lawyers Blocked From The Ecuadorean Embassy | Assange's lawyers asked for the measures before the IACHR arguing the existence of "a potential risk" to his situation in t…
telesurenglish.net/news/IACHR-Denies-Precautionary-Measures-Raised-by-Assange-20190313-0012.html

Venezuela's Deadly Blackout Highlights the Need for a Negotiated Resolution of the Crisis
Gabriel Hetland | thenation.com | 2019-03-13
Venezuela's Deadly Blackout Highlights the Need for a Negotiated Resolution of the Crisis…
thenation.com/article/venezuela-blackout-us-sanctions-maduro/

US Congressmen Introduce Bill to Prohibit US Courts from Recognizing Cuban Trademarks
Telesur | globalresearch.ca | 2019-03-13
Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) presented a bill on Tuesday before the US Congress in which they seek to prohibit the official recognition and rights of Cuban trademarks in the United States. | The bipartisan and bicameral legislation, …
globalresearch.ca/us-congressmen-introduce-bill-to-prohibit-us-courts-from-recognizing-cuban-trademarks/5671271

German Jewish Peace Group Wins Peace Prize; Then Attacked as being Anti-Semitic
Shared by Hezvo Mpunga | therealnews.com | 2019-03-13
Shir Hever talks about the Gà∂ttingen Peace Prize and how it transformed the debate around Palestinian rights in Germany, despite efforts by right-wing politicians to prevent the prize from being given to Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East…
therealnews.com/stories/german-jewish-peace-group-wins-peace-prize-then-attacked-as-being-anti-semitic

How US Sanctions are Hurting Iran: A Firsthand Report
Medea Benjamin | mintpressnews.com | 2019-03-12
CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin recounts her personal experience traveling through Iran with a peace delegation and seeing firsthand the effects that US sanctions have on ordinary Iranians.
mintpressnews.com/us-sanctions-hurting-iran-firsthand-report/256177/

How US Sanctions are Hurting Iran: A Firsthand Report
Medea Benjamin | zcomm.org | 2019-03-12
Trump's economic strangulation is having devastating people on the Iranian people…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/how-us-sanctions-are-hurting-iran-a-firsthand-report/

How US Sanctions are Hurting Iran: A Firsthand Report
Medea Benjamin | counterpunch.org | 2019-03-12
On a recent delegation to Iran, we experienced first-hand the legendary Iranian hospitality. Iranians are particularly thrilled to meet Americans, but as we discovered, our government's policies are hurting the very people who want to be our friends. As our 28-person delegation traveled through the country wearing messages on our jackets proclaiming "Peace with Iran"
counterpunch.org/2019/03/12/how-us-sanctions-are-hurting-iran-a-firsthand-report/

Italy Court Clears 2 Men of Rape Because Woman 'Too Manly'
teleSUR | telesurenglish.net | 2019-03-12
Two men, who were found guilty of rape in 2016, were cleared of the charges by an appeal court in the Italian city of Ancona because the victim was "not credible," a decision that triggered a strong reaction from different organizations concerned with the defense of the rights of women who protested Monday in front of the court shortly after the news became public. | RELATED: | Italy's Far-right Celebrate Women's Day With Sexist Flyer | The judges — who were all females –…
telesurenglish.net/news/Italy-Court-Clears-2-Men-of-Rape-Because-Woman-Too-Manly-20190312-0009.html

New York City rallies for International Women's Day
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2019-03-12
New York, NY – A crowd of over 100 protesters gathered in front of the Philippine General Consulate in New York City on March 8, in honor of International Women's Day. The action, titled "Women Rise Up, Resist, & Unite!", put focus on ending violence against women and children in the Philippines. This included opposing President Duterte's wars on drugs and the poor, as well as his remarks approving of sexual violence against women. | Along with the Philippines, speakers represented other movements that have been led by women, including labor, immigrant rights, and political repression. There were speeches about t…
www.fightbacknews.org/2019/3/12/new-york…

International Women's Day in Tampa: Fight Trump's war on women
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2019-03-12
Tampa, FL – On March 10, over a dozen Tampa community, student and labor leaders gathered at Lykes Gaslight Park for a protest against President Donald Trump's anti-woman agenda. Since coming into office, Trump has led an all-out assault on women's rights, including defunding abortion services, erasing sections of Title IX that protect women from sexual assault and discrimination, and locking asylum-seeking women and children in cages in the southwestern United States. In the spirit of the women's marches that occurred in response to Trump's inauguration, protesters chanted "Pro-life is a lie, you don't care if p…
www.fightbacknews.org/2019/3/12/internat…

Brazil: 2 Former Police Arrested in Marielle Franco Murder
teleSUR | telesurenglish.net | 2019-03-12
Two former policemen were captured Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro as suspects in the murder of Marielle Franco, a councilwoman and human rights activist who was shot on Mar. 14, 2018. | RELATED: | Bolsonaro's Son Linked to Suspect of Marielle Franco's Murder | "Two police officers were arrested with a direct and effective participation in the crime," Marcus Vinicius Braga, Rio de Janeiro state police secretary, said and added that "with the these arrests, we get close to solving the cr…
telesurenglish.net/news/Brazil-2-Former-Police-Arrested-in-Marielle-Franco-Murder-20190312-0006.html

Bolsonaro's Son Dated Daughter of Marielle Franco's Killer
teleSUR | telesurenglish.net | 2019-03-12
A link between Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's family and the Marielle Franco murder case appeared Tuesday afternoon as details emerged that one of Bolsonaro's sons fell in love with the daughter of Ronnie Lessa, who is one of the two former policemen accused of killing the leftist councilwoman and human rights activist on March 14, 2018, as reported by the local media Brasil 247. | RELATED: | Brazil: 2 Former Police Arrested in Marielle Franco Murder | This fact came to light…
telesurenglish.net/news/Bolsonaros-Son-Dated-Daughter-of-Marielle-Francos-Killer-20190312-0013.html

Two former police officers arrested over murder of Marielle Franco and Anderson Gomes
Brasil de Fato | peoplesdispatch.org | 2019-03-12
Two suspects in the killing of councilwoman and human rights activist Marielle Franco and driver Anderson Gomes were arrested this morning in Rio de Janeiro, almost one year after the crime. It is still unclear, however, who ordered the assassination and the motive. | At 4: 30 a.m. local time, 48-year-old retired military police officer Ronnie Lessa and 46-year-…
peoplesdispatch.org/2019/03/12/two-former-police-officers-arrested-over-murder-of-marielle-franco-and-anderson-gomes/

The Political Class's Disregard for Irish Life
Patrick Cockburn | counterpunch.org | 2019-03-12
The families of the 13 innocent people shot dead by the Parachute Regiment when they took part in a civil rights march against internment without trial in Londonderry in 1972 will learn in the coming week if soldiers, who are alleged to have carried out the killings, will be prosecuted. There is no doubt about…
counterpunch.org/2019/03/12/the-political-classs-disregard-for-irish-life/

Lavrov: US Sanction Against Russian Company Violates Int'l Law
teleSUR | telesurenglish.net | 2019-03-12
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is criminalizing Russian companies for doing business with the Venezuelan state, saying they are violated U.S. imposed sanctions by making transactions with Venezuela's sanctioned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA). | RELATED: | US Presses India to Stop Buying Oil from Venezuela | In a Monday press conference Pompeo said that the assets of Evrofinance Mosnarbank, a Russia-Venezuel…
telesurenglish.net/news/Lavrov-US-Sanction-Against-Russian-Company-Violates-Intl-Law-20190312-0005.html

Venezuela: Electricity Recovery Continues as US Withdraws Diplomatic Staff
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-03-12
US officials have threatened new sanctions while Venezuelan authorities continue reactivating the electric grid.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14377

NAACP-Opposed judicial nominee coming up this week
Adam Lee | naacp.org | 2019-03-12
President Trump has nominated Ms. Neomi Rao to serve as a judge on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. Ms. Rao has an extraordinarily long record of hostility to the rights of people of color and other historically marginalized people. The NAACP is strongly opposed to this nomination, which may come before the full Senate for …
naacp.org/latest/naacp-opposed-judicial-nominee-coming-week/

US Congressmen Introduce Bill Against Cuban Trademarks
teleSUR | telesurenglish.net | 2019-03-12
Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) presented a bill on Tuesday before the US Congress in which they seek to prohibit the official recognition and rights of Cuban trademarks in the United States. | RELATED: | Cuban Trade Minister Visits Algeria to Develop Joint Projects | The bipa…
telesurenglish.net/news/US-Congressmen-Introduce-Bill-to-Prohibit-US-Courts-from-Recognizing-Cuban-Trademarks-20190312-0021.html

Banning Trans Girls From School Sports Is Neither Feminist Nor Legal
ACLU | aclu.org | 2019-03-12
Policing what it means to be a girl harms all girls. | Andraya Yearwood, a junior at Cromwell High School in Connecticut, recently finished second in the 55-meter dash at the state open indoor track championships. But instead of well-deserved accolades from her community, she now finds her achievements being publicly challenged — simply because she is transgender. | There is a long legacy of sex discrimination in athletics. Myths, such as the idea that physical exertion would harm wom…
aclu.org/blog/lgbt-rights/transgender-rights/banning-trans-girls-school-sports-neither-feminist-nor-legal

Arrest of Alleged Assassins Doesn't Answer Key Question of Marielle Franco Case: Who Ordered Murder of Brazilian Left-Wing Politician?
Jon Queally, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2019-03-12
The arrest on Tuesday of two individuals alleged to be the gunmen who assassinated Brazilian politician and activist Marielle Franco and her driver nearly one year ago is being heralded as progress by human rights campaigners even as they warn this should be seen as the beginning of accountability and justice for the murders, not the end. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…
commondreams.org/news/2019/03/12/arrest-alleged-assassins-doesnt-answer-key-question-marielle-franco-case-who-ordered?cd-origin=rss

Is ICE Trying to Intimidate Anti-Trump and Anti-ICE Protest?
Shared by Jocelyn Dombroski | therealnews.com | 2019-03-12
An investigation published in The Nation discovered that ICE has been tracking anti-Trump and anti-ICE protests in New York City. Activists find this especially disturbing in light of ICE's effort to deport immigration rights activist Ravi Ragbir…
therealnews.com/stories/is-ice-trying-to-intimidate-anti-trump-and-anti-ice-protest

NAACP 110th Convention Mobilizing in Detroit
Aba Blankson | naacp.org | 2019-03-11
NAACP 110th Convention Mobilizing in Detroit Thousands Expected to Join in Setting NAACP 2020 Agenda Fighting Racism and Defending the Vote, Among Key Issues to be Discussed BALTIMORE (March 8, 2019) — The nation's foremost civil rights organization will kick off its 110th national convention on July 20-24, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. "In a country shaped by race relations, pollution and polarizing political struggles, Detroit stands out as the …
naacp.org/latest/naacp-110th-convention-mobilizing-detroit/

Rally opposes Christmas Island plan
kathy_f | greenleft.org.au | 2019-03-11
About 80 people attended a rally called by the Refugee Action Collective on March 2 to protest against the Australian government's plan to reopen the detention centre on Christmas Island and send refugees from Manus Island and Nauru there. | The rally heard Shamindan Kanapadhi, a Tamil refugee on Manus, speak by phone about the conditions there, including inadequate medical care. He said "all of us on Manus are mentally sick," because of the inhumane and humiliating treatment to which they are subject. | Rally co-chair Tara Josem read a message from David Price, the CEO of Christmas Island shire, who said th…
greenleft.org.au/content/rally-opposes-christmas-island-plan

A Lakota historian on what climate organizers can learn from two centuries of indigenous resistance
Eds. | mronline.org | 2019-03-09
NICK ESTES DID not intend to write a book about Standing Rock. He was working on his dissertation about Indigenous rights at the United Nations when the movement against the Dakota Access pipeline exploded on the edge of one of the 16 northern Plains Indian reservations of the Oceti Sakowin people, known by the U.S. […] | Source…
mronline.org/2019/03/09/a-lakota-historian-on-what-climate-organizers-can-learn-from-two-centuries-of-indigenous-resistance/

US women footballers go to court for pay equality
stuart_m | greenleft.org.au | 2019-03-09
United States football (soccer) players filed a federal gender discrimination lawsuit on International Women's Day on March 8 seeking pay equal to that of their male counterparts. | The action comes just three months before the women's national team will defend its title at the Women's World Cup. | The class-action lawsuit was filed today in a Los Angeles federal court under the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. It alleges gender-based discrimination by the US Football Federation. | The players allege they have been subject to ongoing "institutionalised gender discrimination". This includes une…
greenleft.org.au/content/us-women-footballers-go-court-pay-equality

International Women's Day 2019: We have had enough of Trump and the war on women
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2019-03-08
Enough is enough. Trump, his administration, and his backers are waging war on women, and millions of women are making it clear that we are not going to be pushed backwards. From the massive Women's Marches, to the midterm elections, to the constant, everyday resistance, women are standing up against Trump's reactionary agenda. | Trump and his supporters in the Senate want to pack the Supreme Court and roll back reproductive rights, and they have gotten a start by appointing the drunken misogynist Brett Kavanaugh. Accompanying the administrations outrageous policy of placing immigrants in detention, Trump's Justi…
www.fightbacknews.org/2019/3/8/internati…

NAACP Commends House Passage of For the People Act — H.R. 1 Election Reform Bill
Rachel Johnson | naacp.org | 2019-03-08
Contact: Malik Russell /mrussell@naacpnet.org BALTIMORE (March 8, 2019)–The nation's leading civil rights organization issued the following statement regarding today's passage of groundbreaking election reform bill For the People Act/H.R. 1 by the U.S. House of Representatives. "The For the People Act represents a powerful effort to reinforce the truest principles of our democracy and pushes …
naacp.org/latest/naacp-commends-house-passage-people-act-h-r-1-election-reform-bill/

A Federal Appeals Court Confirms That the Constitution Guarantees Immigrants Access to Courts
ACLU | aclu.org | 2019-03-08
In a landmark decision, a federal appeals court struck down a law limiting judicial review of expedited removal orders as unconstitutional. | In a major decision on Thursday, a federal appeals court held that immigrants are entitled to seek judicial review of their "expedited removal" orders in federal court. This decision is a significant step towards ensuring that vulnerable asylum seekers and others will get a fair shot to prove their claims that our immigration laws and the U.S. Constitution guarantee. | Vijayakumar Th…
aclu.org/blog/immigrants-rights/deportation-and-due-process/federal-appeals-court-confirms-constitution

Weekend Read: Why is racism still America's biggest problem?
splcenter | splcenter.org | 2019-03-08
It rained on marchers from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965, and it rained on them again last weekend as they commemorated the day when police beat civil rights marchers so badly that the date became known the nation over as Bloody Sunday.
splcenter.org/news/2019/03/08/weekend-read-why-racism-still-america%25E2%2580%2599s-biggest-problem

Parents, Civil Rights Groups Sue Maryland For Underfunding Public Schools
Shared by Hezvo Mpunga | therealnews.com | 2019-03-08
The State of Maryland is facing fresh allegations of failing to adequately fund majority black schools, according to a brief jointly filed by parents, American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland and NAACP Legal Defense fund on Thursday, March 7.
therealnews.com/columns/parents-civil-rights-groups-sue-maryland-for-underfunding-public-schools

End Venezuela Sanctions Says Rep. Ro Khanna and 15 Progressive Democrats
Shared by Jocelyn Dombroski | therealnews.com | 2019-03-08
16 progressive members of Congress sent a letter to the Trump administration, demanding an end to economic sanctions and to military threats against Venezuela. We speak to Rep. Ro Khanna, who led the initiative…
therealnews.com/stories/end-venezuela-sanctions-says-rep-ro-khanna-and-15-progressive-democrats

The Government Is Detaining and Interrogating Journalists and Advocates at the US-Mexico Border
ACLU | aclu.org | 2019-03-07
DHS created a list of people who were reporting on or working with the migrant caravan to flag for lengthy questioning at the U.S. border. | In what looks like a coordinated attack on constitutional rights, the U.S. government has reportedly been targeting journalists, activists, and lawyers working to raise awareness of issues facing migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. | On Wednesday, the NBC affiliate in San Diego revealed leaked docu…
aclu.org/blog/free-speech/freedom-press/government-detaining-and-interrogating-journalists-and-advocates-us

Andrew Bacevich: The U.S.-Saudi Relationship Is a Principal Source of Instability in the Middle East
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2019-03-07
We look at a number of recent developments in U.S.-Saudi relations, a day after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a confirmation hearing for retired four-star general John Abizaid to become U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia. On Monday, the Trump administration gave a private briefing to senators on the investigation into the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October. Senators slammed the briefing for providing no new information. Meanwhile, The New York Times has revealed new details about the jailing and torture of a doctor with…
www.democracynow.org/2019/3/7/andrew_bac…

U.S. Has Supplied UAE $27B in Arms Despite Nation's Links to Torture, Mercenaries & Child Soldiers
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2019-03-07
We look at how U.S. weapons are supporting the ongoing devastation in Yemen with William Hartung, director of the Arms and Security Project at the Center for International Policy. He is the author of a new report about the role the United Arab Emirates has played in Yemen. It is titled "'Little Sparta': The United States-United Arab Emirates Alliance and the War in Yemen." We also speak with Ruhan Nagra, the executive director of the University Network for Human Rights, and Radhya Al-Mutawakel, chairperson of the Mwatana Organization for Human Rights. They recently published an investigation into the role of U.S.
www.democracynow.org/2019/3/7/us_has_sup…

War Crimes in Yemen? U.S. & U.K. Arms Killed & Injured Nearly 1,000 Civilians in Saudi-Led Attack
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2019-03-07
As Yemen faces the world's worst humanitarian crisis, a major new report has been released documenting the role that the U.S. and Europe have played in the deaths of hundreds of civilians in the Saudi- and UAE-led war on Yemen. A group of organizations, including a Yemen-based human rights organization, released the damning report on Wednesday, claiming that between April 2015 and April 2018, 27 coalition attacks killed at least 203 civilians and injured at least 749 people. The report found that 22 of the attacks likely involved weapons produced in the United States. The other five attacks were carried out eithe…
www.democracynow.org/2019/3/7/war_crimes…

NAACP Joins NABJ in Criticism of CNN's Lack of Diversity in Leadership Positions
Aba Blankson | naacp.org | 2019-03-07
Civil Rights Group Voices Concerns over Diversity Failure to CNN BALTIMORE — The nation's foremost civil rights organization issued the following response to CNN President Jeff Zucker's refusal to address the lack of diversity in leadership positions: "It is vital that news organizations reflect the diversity of our country, which includes people of color in …
naacp.org/latest/naacp-joins-nabj-criticism-cnns-lack-diversity-leadership-positions/

SPLC joins civil rights groups in friend-of-the-court brief urging Supreme Court to uphold fair, non-partisan redistricting principles
splcenter | splcenter.org | 2019-03-07
The U.S. Supreme Court this month will hear oral arguments in two cases that will test the court's readiness to tackle the issue of partisan gerrymandering.
splcenter.org/news/2019/03/07/splc-joins-civil-rights-groups-friend-court-brief-urging-supreme-court-uphold-fair-non

UN Commission Report Accuses Israel of War Crimes in Gaza
Shared by Jocelyn Dombroski | therealnews.com | 2019-03-07
International law professor Kevin Jon Heller discusses the report of the UN Human Rights Council, which says Israel must be held accountable for war crimes committed against unarmed civilians and that Israeli courts do not hold them accountable…
therealnews.com/stories/un-commission-report-accuses-israel-of-war-crimes-in-gaza

As National Socialist Movement Falls Into Disarray, League of the South, Neo-Nazi Billy Roper Seek To Pick Off Members
splcenter | splcenter.org | 2019-03-06
After a black civil rights advocate took over the neo-Nazi National Socialist Movement (NSM), Kynan Dutton had enough.
splcenter.org/hatewatch/2019/03/06/national-socialist-movement-falls-disarray-league-south-neo-nazi-billy-roper-seek-pick

Kirstjen Nielsen Continues to Insist That There Is No Family Separation Policy
ACLU | aclu.org | 2019-03-06
During her congressional testimony, Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen dodged questions about her department's vicious border policies. | Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen testified on Wednesday before the House Committee on Homeland Security, just days after the House passed a resolution to overturn President Trump's emergency declaration on the border wall. | Nielsen has helped Trump push lies and fabrications about the supposed security crisis at the border, when in fact the only crisis…
aclu.org/blog/immigrants-rights/ice-and-border-patrol-abuses/kirstjen-nielsen-continues-insist-there-no

NAACP Calls for Justice in Stephon Clark Case
Regan Farley | naacp.org | 2019-03-05
Joins Sacramento Branch in Condemning DA's Failure to Charge Police Officers in Murder of Stephon Clark BALTIMORE (March 5, 2019)–The nation's foremost civil rights organization joins its NAACP Sacramento Branch in condemning Sacramento District Attorney Marie Schubert's decision to not charge Sacramento Police officers Terrence Mercadel and Jared Robinet with murder for the killing of …
naacp.org/latest/naacp-calls-justice-stephon-clark-case/

No to the Invasion of Venezuela!
The Jamaica Peace Council | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-03-04
The Jamaica Peace Council (JPC) denounces the US President Donald Trump's Administration's recent sanctions — freezing of assets, acts of provocation and military aggression — against the people of Venezuela. These actions are in alarming violation of international law and the fundamental principles of human rights and national sovereignty.
venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/14365

The Coup in Venezuela, Explained
Aaron Bastani | zcomm.org | 2019-03-04
Sanctions and oil prices are to blame for the country's economic plight, while it boasts a far greater tradition of democracy than critics often realize let alone dare to admit…
zcomm.org/zvideo/the-coup-in-venezuela-explained/

Congressional, civil rights leaders gather at Civil Rights Memorial to honor movement's martyrs
splcenter | splcenter.org | 2019-03-02
U.S. Rep. John Lewis led a gathering of congressional and civil rights leaders in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama, today, honoring those who lost their lives in the struggle for civil rights.
splcenter.org/news/2019/03/02/congressional-civil-rights-leaders-gather-civil-rights-memorial-honor-movement%25E2%2580%2599s-martyrs

Trump's Other 'National Emergency': Sanctions That Kill Venezuelans
Mark Weisbrot — The Nation | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-03-01
The humanitarian crisis will get rapidly worse if the most recent sanctions continue, Mark Weisbrot argues.
venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/14360

US Sanctions Four Venezuelan Governors as Lima Group Nixes Military Action
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-02-26
Despite Saturday's failure to force in "humanitarian aid," Pence warned that there is "no turning back."
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14351

Trump Hits Venezuela with More Sanctions as US Military Planes Bring 'Aid'
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-02-18
Three USAF planes landed 8km from the Venezuelan border, allegedly carrying "humanitarian aid."
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14332

No EU cost for Israeli 'apartheid' in West Bank
patrick | bdsmovement.net | 2019-02-14
No EU cost for Israeli 'apartheid' in West Bank: In the NewsBy Andrew Rettman Sanctions and governmentsFebruary 14, 2019 | By: | | euobserver …
bdsmovement.net/news/no-eu-cost-israeli-apartheid-west-bank