(2019-04-12). Headlines for April 12, 2019. democracynow.org Julian Assange's Lawyers Vow to Fight His Extradition to the United States, Ecuadorean Ex-President Criticizes Successor for Allowing Assange to Be Arrested, Trump Claims "I Know Nothing About WikiLeaks" Despite Praising Site Repeatedly in 2016, Sudanese Protesters Denounce Military Rule, Call for Civilian Government, Report: White House Pushed Plan to Send Migrants to Sanctuary Cities to Punish Dems, Official Who Compared Family Detention Centers to Summer Camps Set to Become Head of ICE, More Offshore Drilling Feared as Senate Confirms Ex-Oil Lobbyist to Head Interior, Report: Amazon, Netflix, IBM, Chevron Paid…
(2019-04-12). British Government Arrests WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange on Behalf of the American Empire. globalresearch.ca Today the UK government broke international law by arresting Julian Assange in the embassy of Ecuador at the behest of the United States. The British government has been ignoring for years demands from UN human rights experts to release Assange …
(2019-04-12). Sudan military committed to 'ensuring stability' and 'peaceful transition' says senior diplomat, as UN rights chief appeals for protesters' rights to be upheld. un.org Sudan's military has an "overarching duty" to refrain from using violence against protesters and ensure that their human rights are protected amid concerns of a further escalation, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said on Friday.
(2019-04-12). Colombia: Human Rights Groups Condemn Campesino Leader Murder. telesurenglish.net On Thursday, the Human Rights Network of the Colombian Southwest denounced the murder of social leader Policarpo Guzman in a rural area of the municipality of Argelia, in the department of Cauca, Colombia. | RELATED: | Colombia: Indigenous Minga Scores Initial Deal with Duque Gov't | The Coordinator of Guarantees and Human Rights of the Patriotic March…
(2019-04-12). Civil Rights Groups and Pro-war Republicans—An unholy Alliance in the Soft War Against China. counterpunch.org Last month, Mike Pompeo, amidst his soft war campaign to undermine the governments of Venezuela, Iran, and Lebanon, expressed concern for the 'abhorrent' allegations of Chinese Muslim internment. Pompeo, currently working to destabilize a number of Global South nations and groups, did not suddenly develop a moral consciousness for the plight of Muslims. Rather, his More
(2019-04-12). In Trump's America, Even Nielsen Wasn't Cruel Enough. truthdig.com Kirstjen Nielsen's cruelty toward immigrants over the past year was apparently not enough for President Donald Trump. Nielsen, the Department of Homeland Security secretary who resigned under pressure Monday after holding her position for just over a year, left behind a legacy stained by the forced separation of thousands of migrant families. Under her watch at least 2,654 children were removed from their parents' care. | What's worse, Nielsen refused to acknowledge the reality of what she had done. After…
(2019-04-12). ICC Refuses to Investigate Crimes in Afghanistan, Including U.S. Torture. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2019-04-12). Chicago Teachers Union members vote to strike four operators at five charter schools. fightbacknews.org Chicago, IL – Five charter schools could face strikes in coming weeks, as educators battle for living wages, adequate student supports, pension rights and protections for immigrant and diverse learners. | After two historic strikes against charter operators, including the first in the nation's history last December, Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) members who work at five charter schools announced strike vote results April 9, at Instituto del Progreso Latino, one of the charter operators with which union members are bargaining. The five schools employ 134 CTU members who educate almost 1800 students. | 94% of…
(2019-04-12). Trump Pushed to Release Detainees Into Sanctuary Cities, Report Finds. truthdig.com In what critics and rights groups condemned as further evidence that the Trump administration views asylum seekers as mere political pawns rather than vulnerable human beings, the White House reportedly considered dropping migrants off in Democratic districts as a supposed "punishment" for their opposition to the president's anti-immigrant agenda. | "The extent of this administration's cynicism and cruelty cannot be overstated," said Ashley Etienne, a spokeswoman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), whose district was reportedly floated as a "target" by the White House. "Using human beings—including l…
(2019-04-12). Trump Administration Denies Prominent Palestinian Human Rights Advocate Entrance. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2019-04-12). Colombia: ONIC Denounces Attack on Indigenous Leader in Bogota. telesurenglish.net The National Indigenous Organization of Colombia, ONIC, condemned the attack of an indigenous leader, who was stabbed and robbed Thursday night in the center of Bogota. | RELATED: | Colombia: Human Rights Groups Condemn Campesino Leader Murder | Dario Mejia of the Zenu community was intercepted by two people as he was on his way to meet an ONIC colleagu…
(2019-04-12). Washington's Selective Sanctions. counterpunch.org On April 3 US Vice President Pence told Germany and Turkey to stop cooperating with Russia. In a speech in Washington marking the 70thAnniversary of the US-NATO military alliance he declared "If Germany persists in building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, as President Trump said, it could turn Germany's economy into literally a captive of More
(2019-04-12). West Papua: Destruction and displacement in Nduga. greenleft.org.au 
Independent human rights monitors are reporting that thousands of people have been displaced and healthcare facilities burned as a result of Indonesian military operations in Nduga, West Papua, according to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP). | The investigation is the latest documentation of the horror of Indonesia's military occupation of West Papua. | The Nduga Case investigation team from Front Line Defenders gathered extensive information on the humanitarian crisis in the region in March. | They estimate that more than 32,000 people have been internally d…
(2019-04-12). The US Government is Still Fighting to Keep the Truth About CIA Torture Secret. theantimedia.com The U.S. government is still afraid to reveal the full extent of torture used on terror suspects in the years following the 9/11 attacks, but do the American people even care anymore? (TMU) — A recent report by The New York Times explores the case of Majid Khan, a prisoner of the United States who plead …
(2019-04-12). Assange Has Been Arrested for US Extradition. indybay.org Extradited for journalism. In a blur, everything that Assange and WikiLeaks have been warning about for years has been proven correct, contrary to mountains of claims to the contrary by establishment loyalists everywhere. The same government which tortured Chelsea Manning is in the process of extraditing her publisher so that they can silence him forever.
(2019-04-12). Refugee rights activists take aim at Liberals in Corangamite. greenleft.org.au 
The Combined Refugee Action Group (CRAG) launched its campaign to highlight the cruel treatment of refugees in the country's most marginal electorate, Corangamite, on April 7. | #ChooseFairnessAndDecency, which was launched at the Barwon Heads Bridge, is asking voters to consider "fair" and "decent" policies for asylum seekers asking Australia for protection and a chance to rebuild their lives. | CRAG's decision to campaign in Corangamite is aimed at adding pressure on Liberal MP Sarah Henderson, who holds the seat by a margin of 0.03% after last year's redistribution. | CRAG will be distributing its policy compa…
(2019-04-12). Single mother takes action against ParentsNext 'mission impossible'. greenleft.org.au 
Single mother of three Juanita McLaren lodged a complaint in the United Nations in March against the Australian government over its discrimination against single mothers. | McLaren is being supported by the National Council of Single Mothers and their Children which wants the parenting payments' scheme and the newly-introduced ParentsNext program to be held up to greater scrutiny. | Since 2012, single parents have been moved from the single parenting payment (now $384.25 a week) to the News…
(2019-04-12). Threatening 'Swift' Retaliation if US, Israel, or Allies Probed, Trump Celebrates ICC's Rejected War Crimes Probe as 'Major International Victory'. commondreams.org Victims' advocates called the court's decision "a grave disappointment for survivors of war-on-terror era torture who have waited nearly two decades for justice" | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files……
(2019-04-12). 'A More Just and Equitable Future': Advocates Welcome Markey's Privacy Bill of Rights. commondreams.org Advocates for strengthening personal data protections welcomed Sen. Ed Markey's Privacy Bill of Rights Act, introduced Friday, as "necessary to ensuring that fairness, privacy, and civil rights flourish in the internet age." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files……
(2019-04-12). Man 'sets himself on fire' outside White House, gets detained. rt.com 
A man has apparently attempted to set himself on fire outside the White House. He caused a commotion by lighting his jacket on fire before Secret Service agents stepped in and whisked him away. He is being treated for injuries. |
(2019-04-11). The Martyrdom of Julian Assange. truthdig.com The arrest Thursday of Julian Assange eviscerates all pretense of the rule of law and the rights of a free press. The illegalities, embraced by the Ecuadorian, British and U.S. governments, in the seizure of Assange are ominous. They presage a world where the internal workings, abuses, corruption, lies and crimes, especially war crimes, carried out by corporate states and the global ruling elite will be masked from the public. They presage a world where those with the courage and integrity to expose the misuse of power will be hunted down, tortured, subjected to sham trials and given lifetime prison terms in soli…
(2019-04-11). UN experts warn Assange arrest exposes him to risk of serious human rights violations. un.org Independent UN rights experts on Thursday said the arrest of Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange by police in the United Kingdom, after the Ecuadorian Government decided to stop granting him asylum in their London embassy, exposed him to "the risk of serious human rights violations", if extradited to the United States.
(2019-04-11). Thursday's Daily Brief: Women in peacekeeping, the arrest of Sudan's leader, updates on Libya, Nigeria and Syria. un.org On Thursday, the Security Council looked at the key role played by women in the UN's peacekeeping operations. Wikileaks founder Julian Assange could be exposed to "serious human rights violations", following his arrest in the United Kingdom, according a UN independent human rights expert. Fighting continues to escalate in Tripoli, Libya, and in Idlib, Syria, and 10,000 conflict-affected people were forcibly relocated in Nigeria and are in dire need of humanitarian aid.
(2019-04-11). Arctic Forum: Russia Announces Development Strategy. telesurenglish.net The 5th International Arctic Forum reunited 3,600 Russian and international lawmakers, scientists and entrepreneurs as well as four of the eight countries of the Arctic Council on April 9. | RELATED: | Russia Prepares Pharmaceutical Companies for War | During the meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin invited foreign investors to take part in the construction of port infras…
(2019-04-11). Requiem for the Fourth Estate. consortiumnews.com The arrest of Julian Assange adds to the steady erosion of the rights we once took for granted, says Ray McGovern. By Ray McGovern It is a very sad day for the rule of law. Today's broad-daylight manhandling and kidnapping… Read more →
(2019-04-11). Julian Assange arrested in London… who is still safe? uwidata.com Ecuadorian authorities revoked Julian Assange's asylum and then allowed police to arrest him inside the country's London embassy. The founder of WikiLeaks was detained inside the embassy on Thursday, with seven men dragging him out of the building and into police custody. The former president of Ecuador Rafael Correa has already condemned current president Lenin …
(2019-04-11). Women must be at 'centre of peacekeeping decision-making', UN chief tells Security Council. un.org Women's rights, voices and participation must be at "the centre of peacekeeping decision-making", United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council on Thursday, describing them as "central to sustainable solutions" to challenges facing the Organization worldwide.
(2019-04-11). Sudanese Military Topples Omar al-Bashir as Anti-Government Protesters Vow to Stay in Streets. democracynow.org 
After months of protest, the Sudanese military ousted President Omar al-Bashir on Thursday, ending his nearly 30 years of authoritarian rule. Tens of thousands of protesters marched in celebration on the streets of Sudan. The military has set up a transitional military council to rule the country for two years, according to a televised statement by Sudan's minister of defense. The news comes after months of protests demanding al-Bashir's resignation. Protesters have been staging a massive sit-in in the capital, Khartoum, since Saturday. Rights groups say at least 50 people have been killed in Sudanese protests si…
(2019-04-11). The Presidential Candidates Should Debate Union Rights in Chattanooga. thenation.com The Presidential Candidates Should Debate Union Rights in Chattanooga…
(2019-04-11). Full house for Victorian Socialists election launch. greenleft.org.au 
More than 350 Victorian Socialists members and supporters packed out Preston Town Hall on April 6 to launch the party's federal election campaign. | In a display of the broad support the campaign is garnering, the night featured greetings from trade unionists involved in the recent Chemist Warehouse workers' victory, community activists campaigning against the impact of toxic fires and representatives from the Brunswick Residents Network and the Tamil Refugee Council. | Footballer Hakeem al-Araibi, who was recently freed by Thai authorities following a strong public campaign after he was detained on his honeymoon…
(2019-04-10). Pompeo: Sanctions Increase "Pain and Suffering" in Venezuela (Pt 2/2). therealnews.com 
Sec. of State Mike Pompeo recently openly admitted that the sanctions are causing pain and suffering and that this would accelerate the process of toppling the Maduro government. Mark Weisbrot discusses the approach and what Democrats and progressives could do to stop this…
(2019-04-10). More Sanctions on Venezuela: Operation Florida 2020 (Pt 1/2). therealnews.com 
Senators Menendez and Rubio introduced a bipartisan bill to intensify the sanctions that are strangling Venezuela's economy. Mark Weisbrot says this is largely possible because members of Congress are unaware of the suffering the sanctions are causing in Venezuela…
(2019-04-10). Boston and New Haven hold rallies for transgender visibility. liberationnews.org 
"Capitalists all the world over don't care about the rights of trans people or any working people. They only care about profits."
(2019-04-10). Congressional Action to End the Bans—Now and Into the Future. aclu.org Trump thought he won, but Members of Congress are pushing back. | For the first time since President Trump issued his Muslim ban, Congress proposed a legislative solution today to protect immigrant communities from discriminatory bans, immediately and permanently. | The long-awaited NO Ban Act, introduced by Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.), would immediately rescind the Muslim ban as well as President Trump's asylum ban and refugee ban, definitively ending these discriminatory abus…
(2019-04-10). The BE HEARD Act Will Overhaul Workplace Harassment Laws. aclu.org The groundbreaking, comprehensive bill takes on workplace harassment and discrimination. | For more than a decade, Tarana Burke and survivors across the country have used #MeToo to share their experiences of sexual violence, raise women's voices, and respond to the needs of survivors. In its current incarnation, #MeToo has sparked an unprecedented examination of sexual harassment, including sexual assault, in our workplaces, and illuminated the multiple manifestations of workplace discrimination. | In the midst of this historic reckoning, the ACLU and coalition partners drafted and shared with members of Congress…
(2019-04-10). Mexico cannot move forward 'without addressing the shadows of the past', says UN rights chief. un.org Concluding "five intense, interesting and rewarding working days" in Mexico, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Wednesday that the country was going through a "crucial" period where it needed to reckon with "the shadows of the past", before it can move forward.
(2019-04-10). The American People Support LGBTQ Equality. Congress Should Too. aclu.org Opponents of equality are spewing myths about transgender people and nondiscrimination protections on Capitol Hill. | In the past seven days, the House of Representatives has held two historic hearings on the Equality Act, HR 5, a bipartisan bill that would add explicit protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity to our civil rights laws, and update the laws to provide increased protection for all women and people of color. What was most notable from…
(2019-04-10). Terrorist Designations: Trump and Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. dissidentvoice.org It's designed to give the US more leg room in the sanction stakes but may end up having its own hemming consequences. The designation by the Trump administration of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist organisation was meant to expand options for the US while shutting others out. While Trump attempts to …
(2019-04-10). U.S. is manufacturing a crisis in Venezuela so that there is chaos and 'needed' intervention. mronline.org America has for years been waging an economic war against Venezuela, including debilitating sanctions which have dramatically affected the state's ability to purchase medicines, and even mundane replacement parts needed in buses, ambulances, etc. | Source
(2019-04-10). Venezuela: New Power Outage as Oil Output Plummets. venezuelanalysis.com Venezuela's oil output fell significantly in March as a result of electricity problems and US sanctions.
(2019-04-09). UN rights chief Bachelet appeals for dialogue in Sudan amid reports '70 killed' in demonstrations. un.org Sudan's authorities have an "over-arching responsibility" to protect protesters, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, said on Tuesday, amid reports that 70 people have died in the latest anti-Government clashes.
(2019-04-09). Washington Appeals Court: Evidence May Prove Climate Action Against Tar Sands Pipeline Was Necessary. shadowproof.com A Washington state appeals court concluded a trial court violated the constitutional rights of climate activist Kenneth Ward, who engaged in civil disobedience against Kinder Morgan, when he was prohibited from presenting a necessity defense. "Ward's past successes in effectuating change through civil disobedience in conjunction with the proposed expert…
(2019-04-09). Kirstjen Nielsen's Cruel Legacy: Outgoing DHS Secretary Proudly Separated Families & Caged Children. democracynow.org 
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has been forced out of her role at the helm of President Trump's immigration policy after reportedly resisting a move by the president to revive his family separation policy at the U.S. border. We look at Nielsen's legacy with Renée Feltz, a Democracy Now! correspondent and producer who has long reported on the criminalization of immigrants, family detention and the business of detention. Nielsen oversaw Trump's "zero tolerance" family separation policy last year and came under fire by Democrats for lying to Congress about the policy, as well as for withh…
(2019-04-09). Bill to End Yemen Siege Passes—No Thanks to MSNBC – After Khashoggi outrage passes, cable network goes back to ignoring US-backed humanitarian disaster. fair.org 
by Adam Johnson | Progressives—along with a handful of libertarian-leaning Republicans—finally passed a bill in both houses of Congress last week to invoke the War Powers act and end US support for the Saudi-led bombing of Yemen, an entirely one-sided war that's killed thousands of Yemeni civilians over the last four years with assistance and direction of the US military. | The bill's proponents achieved this human rights victory with virtually no help from America's leading libe…
(2019-04-09). Utah Passed a Law to Protect Noncitizens From Automatic Deportation. aclu.org By reducing the maximum penalty for a misdemeanor by one day, lawmakers reduced the harm of an unfair federal immigration law | Utah is known for its red rock canyons, steep ski slopes, and a mega-majority Republican legislature. And now it can be recognized as one of just a handful of states to pass legislation that helps noncitizens avoid deportation if they are convicted of a misdemeanor. | The bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Gary Herbert on March 25, clarifies that misdemeanor convictions in Utah can no longer be interpreted as aggravate…
(2019-04-09). Trump Picks Family Separation Advocate Kevin McAleenan to Be Acting Secretary of Homeland Security. aclu.org By elevating McAleenan, the president has signaled that he seeks to maximize cruelty. | With his selection of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Kevin McAleenan to serve as acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), President Trump has once again shown that he has no regrets over his administration's disastrous policy of separating families. | McAleenan was one of the three DHS officials to recommend the cruel and inhumane policy to outgoing Secretary Kirstjen…
(2019-04-09). A Harvard Professor Filed a Shareholder Lawsuit to Restrict Shareholder Rights. theintercept.com Over the past two years, some senior officials at the Securities and Exchange Commission have indicated that they would be open to corporations foisting mandatory arbitration on their shareholders, and now a team of pro-corporate players are ready to put them to the test. Two lawyers have joined with a high-profile Harvard professor on a pivotal case that could strip away shareholders' rights to sue public companies. The Harvard professor, Hal S. Scott, runs a Wall Street advocacy group support…
(2019-04-09). Cameras Linked to Chinese Government Stir Alarm in U.K. Parliament. theintercept.com It is a Chinese state-owned company that is implicated in disturbing human rights violations. But that has not stopped Hikvision from gaining a major foothold in the United Kingdom. Through a network of corporate partners, the Hangzhou-based security firm has supplied its surveillance cameras for use on the British parliamentary estate, as well as to police, hospitals, schools, and universities throughout the country, according to sources and procurement records. | Hikvision, whose technology the U.S. government recently banned federal agencies from purchasing, is generating millions of dollars in annual revenue…
(2019-04-08). Battle of Dignity 2 Begins: Statement by the PFLP in the Occupation Prisons. fightbacknews.org Fight Back News Service is circulating the following April 8 statement from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). | The organization of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine inside the prisons calls for a general mobilization among its ranks, announcing the first to enter the hunger strike. | In the context of the Battle of Dignity (Karameh) 2, which was decided upon by the prisoners' movement inside the Zionist detention camps immediately after the prison administration disavowed their own agreements, the organization declares that the Popular Front in the prisons is mobilizing in…
(2019-04-08). Kirstjen Nielsen's Brutal and Calamitous Leadership of the Department of Homeland Security Comes to an End. aclu.org She implemented some of the Trump administration's most vicious policies and repeatedly violated the law. | Late yesterday, President Trump announced that Kirstjen Nielsen has resigned as the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Trump said that Kevin McAleenan, the commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), will serve as Acting Secretary. | Nielsen's tenure as head of one of the country's largest government agencies was a humanitarian catastrophe, consistently showing a clear disregard for civil rights and people's lives. Indeed, just over a week prior to her resignation, CBP age…