(2019-04-15). ILPS condemns arrest of Julian Assange, Demands his immediate release as journalist. fightbacknews.org Fight Back News Service is circulating the following April 14 statement from the Office of the Chairperson, International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS). | We, the International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS), strongly condemn the arrest of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange by British authorities under the direction of the US government. We defend his rights as a journalist and demand his immediate release. | Assange has earned the ire of the US for exposing the truth about US behind-the-scenes machinations in its drive to carry out foreign interventions and launch wars of aggression for regime chang…
(2019-04-15). Terrorist Designations: Trump and Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. counterpunch.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 More
(2019-04-15). ICC Refuses to Investigate Crimes in Afghanistan, U.S. Torture. globalresearch.ca In what human rights groups call an appalling decision, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber II decided not to grant the Prosecutor's request to open an investigation into alleged crimes committed in Afghanistan and on the territory of other States Parties implicated …
(2019-04-15). The Border, Trumpian Madness and the Clash of Demographics. counterpunch.org Operation Wetback and its aftermath represented, it now seems from the perspective of history, a watershed moment. A threshold had been crossed. Low-wage, non-white labor (deprived of legal rights), long the mainstay of California's huge and profitable agriculture industry, had become an essential feature of the economy more broadly. And in subsequent years, this labor system, "pioneered" as it were, in California and the southwest, would become a crucial feature of the economy nationally. More
(2019-04-15). Falsifying history and repudiating democratic rights: Floyd Abrams' attack on WikiLeaks. wsws.org We are reposting David North's essay, first published over eight years ago, in defense of Julian Assange against efforts by the US media and government to discredit the WikiLeaks founder after the 2010 release of the Iraq War Logs.
(2019-04-15). Can't have it both ways: Migrant advocate Cher blasted for opposing idea of illegals flooding LA. rt.com 
Singer Cher, who once famously offered to take a "Dreamer" into her home and encouraged others to follow suit, is now up in arms over US President Donald Trump's proposal to funnel illegal migrants to her sanctuary city.
(2019-04-15). 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.
(2019-04-14). Assange and the Cowardice of Power. dissidentvoice.org Donald Trump has never heard of WikiLeaks, the publishing organization whose work he repeatedly and unequivocally touted during the 2016 election campaign. "I know nothing about WikiLeaks," he told reporters after Julian Assange was illegally arrested, after being illegally detained for seven years, in London. "It's not my thing and I know there is something …
(2019-04-14). Trump Faces Outcry over Video linking Ilhan Omar to 9/11. telesurenglish.net United States President Donald Trump has come under fire for posting a video on his Twitter linking 9/11 with Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. | RELATED: | Trump 'Fuels Hate Against Muslims,' Ilhan Omar Says | The video spliced news footage of 9/11 with a clip from a speech Omar gave last month to Council of American-Islamic Relations, Muslim civil rights, and advocacy group. | Omar said that Muslims had "lived with the discomfort of being a second-class citizen and, frankly, I'm tired of it, and…
(2019-04-14). Greater transparency, fairer prices for medicines 'a global human rights issue', says UN health agency. un.org While developing countries have long struggled with the price of medicines, today's costs have rendered it a world-wide challenge, and the key topic of concern at a global medicines forum in South Africa, co-sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO).
(2019-04-14). Sanctuary Cities to Welcome Migrants If Trump's Idea Goes Thru. telesurenglish.net Democratic U.S. mayors from "sanctuary cities" said they would welcome undocumented migrants if needed, dismissing President Donald Trump's bid to threat them into supporting stricter immigration policies. | RELATED: | Trump Bids to Send Migrants to Democrat-run Sanctuary Cities | Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, New York, Portland, Oakland, among other mayors from large U.S. cities stated Friday that their communities would accept with open arms those migrants, "just as we…
(2019-04-13). Cyclone Idai, sanctions and capitalism. mronline.org 
Western capitalists are to blame largely for climatic changes that causes natural and environmental disasters. Poverty, which is a result of the diabolic and pernicious economic sanctions, has forced the poor to build poor and weak structures that do not withstand the heavy winds and storms. | Source
(2019-04-13). NYC rallies for the Negros 14, farmers killed by Duterte regime. fightbacknews.org New York, NY – Forty people gathered in front of the Consulate General of the Philippines, April 10, in New York City to demand justice for the Negros 14, and to stop the killings in the Philippines, as part of a global day of action. | The Negros 14 were a group of farmers murdered on March 30, with 12 others being illegally arrested. These murders are part of a continuous campaign by the Duterte government to target peasants and workers in the country. | The action was organized by the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines Northeast and the Malaya Movement Northeast. The crowd chanted and…
(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.
(2019-04-13). Assange Held at "Britain's Guantanamo Bay" as UN Urges Fair Trial. theantimedia.com (ZH) — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange faces a likely extended extradition battle after this week's dramatic end to his seven-year asylum stay holed up in Ecuador's London embassy. He's now in a British jail, and though UK authorities have yet to confirm the precise place of his detention, multiple reports suggest that he's being held in what's dubbed "Britain's Guantanamo Bay" — or …
(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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). Julian Assange of WikiLeaks Arrested in London; Faces U.S. Charge Related to Chelsea Manning Leaks. democracynow.org 
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been arrested in London. Earlier today, British police forcibly removed Assange from the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where he has been living since 2012. London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement that Assange was arrested on behalf of the United States authorities. The U.S. has charged Assange with helping Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning hack a government computer. The indictment was unsealed shortly after his arrest. We speak to Renata àÅvila, a member of Assange's legal team, as well as British human rights attorney Geoffrey Robertson, Pulitzer Prize-winnin…
(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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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.
(2019-04-10). 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). 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 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). 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…
(2019-04-09). 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). 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). 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). 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…