(2020-12-04). REVIEW: 'Ballad of an American'—Civil rights giant Paul Robeson's illustrated bio. peoplesworld.org 
This has been a tumultuous year. Millions marched in the streets against police brutality and violence after the killing of George Floyd. They were tear-gassed, shot with rubber bullets and percussion grenades, and run over, among any number of other civil liberties abuses. Their demand was "Black Lives Matter!" Their persistence has scored some gains. …
(2020-12-04). Turkey: US sanctions over S-400s to be mandatory in new defence bill. middleeasteye.net 
Turkey: US sanctions over S-400s to be mandatory in new defence bill | The $740bn annual US defence spending legislation will oblige the White House to select from a list of sanctions | Fri, 12/04/2020 – 09: 37 | Russia delivered the S-400 ground-to-air systems last year and Turkey has tested them as recently as October (Reuters) | Turkey's lira slipped on Friday after US lawmakers include…
(2020-12-04). New head of UK equality watchdog opposed efforts to define Islamophobia. middleeasteye.net 
New head of UK equality watchdog opposed efforts to define Islamophobia | Baroness Falkner, named this week as chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, has hosted parliamentary events for the neoconservative Henry Jackson Society | Fri, 12/04/2020 – 14: 40 | Kishwer Falkner has said that Islamophobia should not be treated as a separate form of racism (Creative Commons) | The new chair of the…
(2020-12-04). US Slaps More Sanctions on Iran, Claiming Tehran Has Secret Chemical Weapons. theantimedia.com Iraq used chemical weapons against Iran in 1980s war while receiving support from the US.
(2020-12-04). Ola Bini's pre-trial hearings suspended for two weeks. peoplesdispatch.org The hearings are set to resume on December 16, but without any observers. Ola Bini, a digital privacy rights activist and software developer, was arrested in April 2019…
(2020-12-04). Thursday 12/17: Bill of Rights Day 2020 Celebration Webinar w/ ACLU NorCal. indybay.org Online via Zoom…
(2020-12-03). Yemen: Unchecked violations 'may amount to war crimes', Security Council hears. news.un.org UN experts called on the Security Council on Thursday, along with the international community at large, to put an end to the "surreal and absurd dimension" of human rights violations engulfing war-torn Yemen, where abuses continue unchecked.
(2020-12-03). New York tenants battle privatization of public housing. peoplesworld.org 
Housing rights groups, including supporters from the Movement School, the Young Communist League and the Communist Party of New York, stood with the tenants of the New York City Housing Authority's Fulton Houses in Chelsea as they recently recommenced protesting the de facto privatization of their homes and the nearby Chelsea-Elliott Houses. Under cover of …
(2020-12-03). Labour suspends two activists for backing Corbyn in anti-Semitism row & accusing Starmer of 'colluding with Tories'. rt.com 
Britain's Labour Party has suspended two leading members of a local organisation, one of whom is Jewish, after they publicly accused Keir Starmer of using an anti-Semitism probe to crack down on former party leader Jeremy Corbyn. | Those sanctioned are the chair of Chingford and Woodford Green Constituency Labour Party, Gary Lefley, and its vice-chair, Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi. | The suspension came after the two staged an online meeting with fellow party members earlier this week, criticising that way the Labour leadership has handled the Equalities and Human Rights Commission's (EHRC) report on anti-Semitism i…
(2020-12-03). Egypt releases three human rights advocates after international outcry. middleeasteye.net 
Egypt releases three human rights advocates after international outcry | Arrests of top advocates at Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights drew rebuke from rights groups and Western governments | Thu, 12/03/2020 – 20: 01 | Rights advocates Gasser Abdelrazek, Karim Ennarah and Mohamed Basheer were released on Thursday (AFP/File photo) | Egypt has released three prominent rights defenders whose detention last…
(2020-12-03). Detained Saudi prince moved to 'undisclosed' location, warns European lawmaker. middleeasteye.net 
Detained Saudi prince moved to 'undisclosed' location, warns European lawmaker | Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz has been detained for nearly three years | Thu, 12/03/2020 – 14: 39 | An undated picture made available on 30 May 2020 by a friend of Saudi Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz shows him signing the visitors book in the German city of Dresden (AFP) | A detained Saudi prince has been moved to…
(2020-12-03). Moscow moves to expel Soros-linked US activist as ex-president Medvedev warns foreign NGOs trying to sow discord in Russia. rt.com 
The Russian government is set to expel a prominent human-rights activist, with former president Dmitry Medvedev claiming there's a co-ordinated campaign by international organizations to stoke unrest in the world's largest state. | Vanessa Kogan, the director of the Stichting Justice Initiative project, told Britain's Guardian newspaper that Russian authorities had notified her of the revocation of her residency permit. She will now have two weeks to leave the country, where she has lived for more than ten years. She also has two children with a Russian national. | The Stichting Justice Initiative is an NGO wh…
(2020-12-03). 200K wrongfully purged GA voters fight to be heard in Senate runoffs. therealnews.com 
Civil rights groups are seeking an injunction against Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to allow those voters to participate in the Jan. 5 runoff senate election, which will determine the balance of power in Congress.
(2020-12-03). Venezuela, China Condemn US Sanctions Against Tech Company. venezuelanalysis.com Beijing reiterated its support for Venezuelan sovereignty.
(2020-12-03). Major Gains for Rights of Nature Movement Met With Corporate and State Backlash. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2020-12-03). Time to mobilise to defend workers' rights. greenleft.org.au The union-bosses-government working groups to discuss industrial relations reform have not delivered and the PM has signalled new IR laws before Christmas. Sarah Hathway argues that union leaderships need to get prepared.
(2020-12-03). Recognize and protect rights of persons with disabilities, UN chief urges, marking International Day. news.un.org The United Nations is commemorating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, on Thursday, calling for greater inclusion for persons with disabilities, and recognizing and protecting their human rights.
(2020-12-03). US Lawmakers Include Expanded Nord Stream-2 Sanctions in 2021 Defense Bill. sputniknews.com WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Negotiating teams from both chambers of the US Congress said in a joint statement that they had included expanded sanctions against Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the final version of the 2021 US defense spending bill.
(2020-12-03). Time to mobilise to defend workers' rights. greenleft.org.au The union-bosses-government working groups to discuss industrial relations reform have not delivered and the PM has signalled new IR laws before Christmas. Sarah Hathway argues union leaderships need to get prepared.
(2020-12-02). Separated Families, Death, and Despair — All at the Hands of CBP. We Need Action, Now. aclu.org Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is at the heart of some of the greatest moral horrors of the last four years, personified in stories that we cannot forget: the
(2020-12-02). Labor's Continuing Corbyn "Antisemitism" Saga. counterpunch.org 
The fallout regarding the UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) report on antisemitism in the Labour party continues, as do its repercussions for the former leader Jeremy Corbyn. I discussed the report in a previous CounterPunch post, pointing out that while it didn't uphold the claim by the Jewish Labour Movement, which issued the first
(2020-12-02). Update: Forced-hysterectomy victims in ICE detention deported. therealnews.com 
Eddie Conway talks to Azadeh Shahshahani, Project South Legal and Advocacy Director and lawyer for Dawn Wooten, a nurse at Irwin County Detention Center and the whistleblower who sounded the alarm on ICE abuses, including the case of ICE detainees being forced to have hysterectomies while in custody…
(2020-12-02). Palestinian prisoner Maher al-Akhras released after 103-day hunger strike. workers.org 
Palestinian political prisoner Maher al-Akhras was released from Israeli prison Nov. 26. He had staged a hunger strike for 103 days in protest of his arrest and incarceration. He was held by occupation forces under "administrative detention" and was never charged with a crime. Akhras, who was transferred to a . . . |
(2020-12-02). Palestinian prisoner Maher al-Akhras released after 103-day hunger strike. workers.org 
Hunger striker Maher al-Akhras Palestinian political prisoner Maher al-Akhras was released from Israeli prison Nov. 26. He had staged a hunger strike for 103 days in protest of his arrest and incarceration. He was held by occupation forces under "administrative detention" and was never charged with a crime. Akhras, who . . . |
(2020-12-02). PPA Dec. 3 Webinar to celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities. workers.org 
Inside Macy's Dec. 3, 2019. New York, N.Y. — The worldwide struggle by people with disabilities for equal rights led the United Nations to establish the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Dec. 3, 1992. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was adopted by the . . . |
(2020-12-02). Egypt: Amnesty condemns 'horrifying execution spree'. middleeasteye.net 
Egypt: Amnesty condemns 'horrifying execution spree' | Dozens of people have been put to death in the past two months according to UK-based rights group | Wed, 12/02/2020 – 08: 14 | Amnesty said the 'execution spree' followed an incident in September at Cairo's Tora prison in which several policemen and death-row prisoners were killed in a botched breakout attempt (AFP) | Amnesty Internati…
(2020-12-02). Palestinian prisoner Maher-al-Akhras released after 103-day hunger strike. workers.org Hunger striker Maher al-Akhras Palestinian political prisoner Maher al-Akhras was released from Israeli prison Nov. 26. He had staged a hunger strike for 103 days in protest of his arrest and incarceration. He was held by occupation forces under "administrative detention" and was never charged with a crime. Akhras, who . . . |
(2020-12-02). Is the U.S. Actually a 'Police State'? strategic-culture.org Eric ZUESSE | Is the phrase "police state" anything more than propaganda that a government uses against a foreign government that it wants to overthrow — such as the U.S. did against Iraq before invading it in 2003, and against Libya and Syria since 2011, and against Venezuela since 2012, and against Ukraine since 2013, and in all instances destroyed those countries, allegedly to 'bring democracy and human rights and the rule of law, and fight against corruption' there (as if that were honestly the intention)? | The phrase "police state" is used propagandistically to denigrate a foreign nation that one's ow…
(2020-12-02). Tuesday 12/8: 18th Annual Human Rights Awards. indybay.org Zoom ID: 864 8365 0623 | us02web.zoom.us/j/86483650623 | Call in: +1 669-900-9128…
(2020-12-02). The Handmaid's Tale: making a drama out of a crisis. news.un.org The Handmaid's Tale, an award-winning television series, may be about a fictional "alternative reality", but the show's creators have gone to great lengths to ensure that references to themes such as climate change, human rights abuses, and refugees, are as real and accurate as possible, by collaborating closely with UN experts.
(2020-12-02). Iran Calls On The International Community To Confront Israel. popularresistance.org Iran is asking the international community to confront the Israeli regime's actions, "a murderer of children" and "a violator of human rights." | In a message sent on Tuesday to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Iranian President Hasan Rohani has declared Iran's strong support for the Palestinian people to achieve their ideals. | Rohani condemned the recent actions of the Israeli regime against the Palestinians, including the killing of Palestinians in custody and the torture of prisoners, especially women and children…
(2020-12-02). 'We Need Real Housing Relief for All Tenants'. progressive.org In New York City and throughout the nation, activists are standing up for renters' rights. Rising rents, stagnant wages, and low rental vacancy rates were a toxic mix long before COVID-19 hit U.S. shores.
(2020-12-02). 250 Million People Participate In Countrywide Strike In India. popularresistance.org On Thursday, November 26, India witnessed the biggest organized strike in human history. Over 250 million workers and farmers, along with their allies among students, feminists and civil society groups participated in the nationwide strike. The strike coincides with India's Constitution Day, which commemorates the adoption of the constitution in 1949, and comes in the background of an unprecedented attack on workers' rights and farmers' protections by the right-wing government of prime minister Narendra Modi.
(2020-12-02). US sanctions prevent Iran from buying medical equipment. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 02 (MNA) — UN Special Rapporteur said that the US has imposed sanctions on companies that were trying to supply Iran with ventilators.
(2020-12-02). Rainbow Rebellion takes aim at lack of LGBTI rights. greenleft.org.au Rainbow Rebellion marched and chanted through the city's street on November 28 as part of Pride Week, reports Petrina Harley.
(2020-12-02). We Need an Essential Workers Bill of Rights. commondreams.org Walmart's owners are seeing their wealth surge while my former coworkers there go without hazard pay. That has to change. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-12-01). Paris Vows to Seek Immediate EU Retaliation if US Sanctions France for New Digital Tax. sputniknews.com Last year, Paris approved a 3 percent revenue tax, dubbed "GAFA" (meaning Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon) on companies with profits of more than €25 million ($28 million) in France and corporations making over €750 million (around $890 million) worldwide, resulting in a harsh reaction from the Trump administration.
(2020-12-01). Warning of International Law Violations, Rights Groups Demand Halt to Trump Weapons Sale to UAE. commondreams.org "In Yemen, airstrikes by the Saudi- and Emirati-led Coalition are responsible for the majority of civilian casualties," 29 groups write in a new letter. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-12-01). Israel Releases Mays Abu Ghosh, Palestinian Student Jailed for Membership in Leftist Campus Group. commondreams.org Abu Ghosh—imprisoned for 15 months after joining a banned college organization that opposes Israel's illegal occupation—described torture by her jailers. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-12-01). #24. Silenced in Savannah: Journalist Abby Martin Challenges Georgia's BDS "Gag Law" projectcensored.org Journalist and filmmaker Abby Martin, a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement that aims to end support for Israel's oppression of Palestinians, was scheduled to give a…