(2019-04-13). Trump Bids to Send Migrants to Democrat-run Sanctuary Cities. telesurenglish.net Armed with a new measure to pressure Democrats into supporting stricter immigration policies, U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed sending undocumented immigrants to Democratic-held "sanctuary cities." | RELATED: | Trump's Court Ordered Deportation of 11-Year Old Without Family | Cities in the United States are classified as sanctuary cities when the…
(2019-04-13). 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.
(2019-04-13). Prominent Australian journalist Mary Kostakidis speaks out for Assange. wsws.org "Journalists, all over the world, who have published material that WikiLeaks made available, should stand up for Julian's rights."
(2019-04-13). Trump officials discussed using troops to run migrant detention camps. wsws.org Trump has been able to carry through his anti-immigrant program, despite popular opposition, because the Democrats have done nothing to seriously oppose it.
(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). Friday's Daily Brief: human rights in Sudan, sombre anniversaries for Rwanda and Nigeria, and fears of 'chaos' in Libya. un.org Top news on Friday included: a call for respect for human rights in Sudan's protests; the 25th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda; five years since the Chibok girls were abducted in Nigeria; the UN chief condemning a deadly terrorist attack in Pakistan; continued fighting in Libya's capital; and an update on Colombia's peace process.
(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). 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). 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). ICC Refuses to Investigate Crimes in Afghanistan, Including U.S. Torture. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2019-04-12). US Hands Argentina 5,600 Declassified Files from 'Dirty War'. telesurenglish.net The United States presented to Argentina its fourth and final installment of the Declassification Process on human rights abuses made during the military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983 on Friday. | RELATED: | Argentine University Gives Mother of Plaza de Mayo Honorary Doc | The final 5,600 documents were added to a record-breaking, 50,000 page-gove…
(2019-04-12). Is 'Dictator' the Media's Most Insidious Code Word? truthdig.com Let's start with a quiz: Quick! Name some dictators! | I'm willing to bet most of you responded with just a few of the same names: Assad, Putin, Castro, Kim Jong-un, Gaddafi, Maduro. This is not because they are the only dictators in the world (far from it), or that all of them even necessarily qualify for the title, but precisely because these are the figures most constantly labeled as such by our media. | "Dictator" is a very powerful moniker to give someone. There is a hard-to-define but very important distinction between a government with authoritarian tendencies or a poor human rights record, on the one hand…
(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). Trump Reportedly Pushed to Drop Asylum Seekers in Democratic Sanctuary Cities. truthout.org 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 — includ…
(2019-04-12). Senators Take Step Forward on Voting Rights Restoration. truthout.org Maryland Senator Ben Cardin introduced on Tuesday the Democracy Restoration Act (or DRA), which would restore federal voting rights to Americans who are not in prison but are nevertheless denied the right to vote because of prior criminal convictions. The Senate bill follows the historic passage of the For the People Act in the House of Representatives last month, which included a similar provision to restore voting rights. | "We are in a moment where Americans are demanding free, fair, and accessible elections," the B…
(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). 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). Democratic Candidates Say They Support Reparations. Do They Mean It? truthout.org The 2020 presidential primary season is just beginning, but it's clear already that the Democratic contenders are mapping a route to the White House that runs smack dab through Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) told reporters in February that she supports reparations for African Americans. | "We must confront the dark history of slavery and government-sanctioned discrimination in this country that has had many consequences incl…
(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. |
(2019-04-12). 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). 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). As Trump Threatens to Ship Undocumented Immigrants to Sanctuary Cities, Those Cities Say: We Will Welcome Them. commondreams.org Confirming on Friday that his administration is considering a plan in which undocumented immigrants would be sent en masse to sanctuary cities, President Donald Trump framed the announcement as a threat—but several politicians and rights advocates replied that immigrants would be welcome in the cities. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files……
(2019-04-12). Like immigrants? Here's an 'unlimited supply': Trump threatens to dump illegals in sanctuary cities. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump once again called on Democrats to support tighter immigration laws, threatening to dump "an unlimited supply" of illegal immigrants in so-called sanctuary cities to force a change.
(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). 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). '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……
(2019-04-11). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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…