(2020-12-18). Remembering protest singer Phil Ochs on his 80th birthday. peoplesworld.org 
For those not fortunate enough to recall, Phil Ochs was one of our nation's most profound singer/songwriters in the period that bridged the Civil Rights, antiwar, and feminist movements. He was born on December 19, 1940: This week, he would have been 80 years old. His topical songs called for peace and an equitable society. They called for …
(2020-12-18). Killing of 15-year-old by Israel is a "grave violation of international law", says UN human rights office. peoplesdispatch.org 
On December 4, Israeli occupation forces killed a 15-year-old Palestinian boy, Ali Abu Alia, during a protest in the occupied West Bank against the building of an illegal Israeli settlement…
(2020-12-18). (How) Should Class War Go Global? Building an Anti-Corporate Left Internationalism. currentaffairs.org 
In the last century or so, global solidarity has all but dried up. As each day holds new injustices, its revival is our best hope.
(2020-12-18). El Salvador: Parliament Orders Dismissal of Police Chief Arriaza. telesurenglish.net El Salvador's Parliament on Thursday requested the resignation of Defense Minister Francis Merino and approved the dismissal of the National Police Director Mauricio Arriaza for his implication in the military takeover of the Parliament's facilities in February. | RELATED: | Arriaza was accused of human rights violations committed by the Police, which pressured Salvadoran lawmakers to approve a US$109 million loan fr…
(2020-12-18). UN rights experts 'deeply troubled' by impunity for killing of Palestinian children. news.un.org UN independent human rights experts, on Thursday, called for an impartial and independent investigation into the killing of a 15-year-old child by Israeli security forces at a West Bank protest this month.
(2020-12-18). Free Speech Protest in Downtown Santa Cruz. indybay.org Watch the free speech protest held on Church Street on December 11th in downtown Santa Cruz, challenging for city of 1st and 14th Amendment rights violations. Also, recently published survey results of Santa Cruz County residents on political issues ranging from their media to Black Lives Matter. Eye-opening.
(2020-12-18). Community Food Serve. indybay.org Join us on Sunday December 20th to hand out food, water, and blankets to our houseless neighbors in need. | Please message us for the exact address if you are planning to join us! | — | Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) is a grassroots network of animal rights activists. Through open rescue, demonstration, and disruption, we are creating a world where every animal is safe, happy and free. | DxE cultivates a welcoming and supportive community. We ask that all those who attend our events (online and offline) respect our Code of Conduct which can be reviewed at dxe.io/conduct | To learn about our vision, goals, strat…
(2020-12-17). 'Intentional lethal force': UN experts slam Israel for killing Palestinian child. middleeasteye.net 
'Intentional lethal force': UN experts slam Israel for killing Palestinian child | Fatal shooting of 15-year-old Ali Abu Aliya a 'grave violation of international law', says UN Human Rights Office | Thu, 12/17/2020 – 19: 36 | Experts call for transparent investigation into killing of Ali Abu Aliya (Photo supplied) | United Nations experts condemned the Israeli military for killing a Palestinian child during a…
(2020-12-17). Coalition of groups criticise OIC for failing to condemn China's persecution of Uighurs. middleeasteye.net 
Coalition of groups criticise OIC for failing to condemn China's persecution of Uighurs | Rights and advocacy groups call on Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to demand accountability and transparency from Beijing | Thu, 12/17/2020 – 19: 55 | Despite protests from Uighurs outside China, many Muslim-majority countries have remained silent on China's rights violations (AFP/File photo) | A coalition…
(2020-12-17). Arabic press review: Egypt, UAE say improvement in Saudi-Qatari relations 'not welcome'. middleeasteye.net 
Arabic press review: Egypt, UAE say improvement in Saudi-Qatari relations 'not welcome' | Meanwhile, British diplomat says UK 'very concerned about continuing tensions in the Gulf', and number of people held in Algerian prisons without legal basis now 'exceeds 20,000', says human rights group | Thu, 12/17/2020 – 16: 20 | Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed (L) and Egyptian President Abdel…
(2020-12-17). Putin says outrage over 'anti-Islam' cartoons & French street beheading is evidence that 'multiculturalism has failed' in West. rt.com 
Russian President Vladimir Putin has weighed in on the debate around freedom of speech and the rights of religious believers, saying the clash of cultures is an existential problem in the West. | In response to a question from RT correspondent Igor Zhdanov as part of his annual end-of-year press conference on Thursday, Putin said there was a fine balance between expressing yourself and insulting the feelings of entire groups of people. | "Where is the boundary between one freedom and another freedom," the president asked. "It is well known that where one man's freedom begins, another's must end." He added that…
(2020-12-17). Turkey will not 'turn back on' S-400 missile system after US sanctions. middleeasteye.net 
Turkey will not 'turn back on' S-400 missile system after US sanctions | Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu confirmed that Ankara would not turn back on the controversial missile system | Thu, 12/17/2020 – 07: 16 | Washington sanctioned the Presidency for Defence Industries (SSB), Turkey's military procurement agency for activating the S-400 missile system (AFP) | Turkey said it would not turn bac…
(2020-12-17). Nasrin Sotoudeh, Iran's Courtroom Gladiator, for the Defense. progressive.org A stirring new documentary captures the fight for women's rights in the Islamic Republic.
(2020-12-17). Why Kaepernick's Flavor Is Dairy-Free. progressive.org In the past 150 years or so we have made some progress in the field of basic human rights. That is barely the case for animal rights.
(2020-12-17). Rafer Johnson, once the "World's Greatest Athlete," dies at age 86. wsws.org The US gold medal winner of the decathlon at the 1960 Olympics, Rafer Johnson, was the first African American athlete to achieve world prominence during the period of the Cold War and civil rights movement.
(2020-12-17). Gas Company Sues To Destroy Small Town's Rights Of Nature Law. popularresistance.org In a clear signal of how the fossil fuel industry feels about efforts to enact Rights of Nature protections that safeguard communities and the environment from the impacts of coal, gas, and oil development, an energy company has—yet again—filed a federal lawsuit challenging a local law in Grant Township, Pennsylvania. | This is the second time that Pennsylvania General Energy Company (PGE) has sued over the 2015 law, which aims to keep fracking waste injection wells out of the community of about 700 people. | Though the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) also previously sued the…
(2020-12-17). Vietnam regrets US to sanction firm over Iran-related trade. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 17 (MNA) — Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday it regretted a US decision to sanction a Vietnamese company relating to the transport of petroleum products from Iran.
(2020-12-17). EarthRights Applauds Nomination of Rep. Deb Haaland as Interior Secretary. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2020-12-17). 'No Doubt': Iran's Rouhani Says US Will Rejoin 2015 Nuclear Deal, Lift Sanctions Under Biden. sputniknews.com Under the Trump administration, the US withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), arguing that Iran had violated its terms and that the deal was not beneficial. The move reimposed sanctions lifted under the deal and was one of many decisions by the administration that heightened tensions with the Middle Eastern country.
(2020-12-16). Abuse on the Mainland: Australia's Medevac Hotel Detentions. dissidentvoice.org Governments that issue press releases about the abuse of human rights tend to avoid close gazes at the mirror. Doing so would be telling. In the case of Australia, its record on dealing with refugees is both abysmal and cruel. It tends to be easier to point the finger at national security laws in Hong …
(2020-12-16). Civil Rights Groups Urge Biden to Nominate Attorney General Dedicated to 'Bedrock Principle of Equal Justice'. commondreams.org "We need an attorney general… committed to ending discrimination; addressing white supremacy and hate violence; and advancing racial, gender, disability, ethnic, religious, immigrant, and LGBTQ justice." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-12-16). Defend incarcerated workers! workers.org 
These comments were given at a Dec. 10 webinar of the Prisoners Solidarity Committee of Workers World Party. The theme of tonight's webinar is "Build class solidarity with incarcerated workers: No walls in the workers' struggle." The PSC wanted to sponsor this webinar on International Human Rights Day — the . . . |
(2020-12-16). Lynchings by law. mronline.org 
The U.S. death penalty has always been a symbol of white supremacy and a violation of human rights law. Having already executed 11 people this year, the Trump administration plans to execute five people (four of them Black) during a lame-duck session.
(2020-12-16). 'What kind of an alliance is this?': Turkey's Erdogan slams US over sanctions. middleeasteye.net 
'What kind of an alliance is this?': Turkey's Erdogan slams US over sanctions | Turkey's president responds to sanctions levied on Monday, calling them unjust and 'open attack' on its sovereignty | Wed, 12/16/2020 – 18: 53 | Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks after chairing cabinet meeting in Ankara on 14 December (AFP/File photo) | Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan respo…
(2020-12-16). Dissident former Saudi jockey alleges poison threat and attempt to 'lure' her home. middleeasteye.net 
Dissident former Saudi jockey alleges poison threat and attempt to 'lure' her home | Alya Al-Howeiti, once a celebrated sports star in the kingdom, reveals backlash and death threats since speaking out against Riyadh's policies | Wed, 12/16/2020 – 14: 22 | Alya al-Howeiti was a celebrated Saudi jockey, before becoming a London-based human rights activist (Screengrab/Twitter) | A Saudi dissident and fo…
(2020-12-16). Family of Australian professor detained in Qatar say they fear for his life. middleeasteye.net 
Family of Australian professor detained in Qatar say they fear for his life | Professor Lukman Thalib told relatives that his blood pressure and heart rate had become dangerously low | Wed, 12/16/2020 – 14: 36 | Professor Lukman Thalib (right) received a teaching award at Qatar University in 2018. He is a public health expert and helped Qatar with its covid-19 response (Supplied) | The family of an Austr…
(2020-12-16). 'The fossil fuel industry is terrified': Gas company sues to destroy small town's rights of nature law. nationofchange.org "The fossil fuel industry is terrified the tactics taken in Grant Township are spreading."
(2020-12-16). Refugee supporters rally at prison hotel. greenleft.org.au Refugee rights supporters rallied outside the Mantra Hotel demanding the detainees be released, not moved, reports Chris Slee.