Daily Archives: January 23, 2021

2021-01-23: News Headlines

FFWEEC (2021-01-23). Wednesday 1/27: The Equal Rights Amendment & the Disability Community Town Hall. indybay.org Online panel discussion…

news.un (2021-01-22). Pandemic will not end for anyone, 'until it ends for everyone'. news.un.org The COVID-19 pandemic "will not end for anyone, until it ends for everyone", an independent UN human rights expert said on Friday, advocating for an equitable and globally-coordinated vaccine distribution programme.

_____ (2021-01-22). Indigenous Land Grab On The Horizon. popularresistance.org BHP and Rio Tinto, two of the world's largest resource extraction companies, have earned themselves a solid reputation for obliterating native lands and communities throughout the world. Leaders in the international mining market, the British-Australian companies are globally condemned for their labor, environmental and human rights abuses. Today, they're hard at work to expand that reputation to Arizona, where their jointly-owned company Resolution Copper advances toward the destruction of ancestral Apache land Oak Flat. | Following the outcry caused by Rio Tinto's deliberate gutting of 46,000-year-old Aborigina…

commondreams (2021-01-22). NIAC Applauds Biden for Plan to Review Impact of U.S. Sanctions on International COVID Response. commondreams.org ______________________________…

MEE staff (2021-01-22). UN expert condemns Egypt's detention of journalists, human rights defenders. middleeasteye.net UN expert condemns Egypt's detention of journalists, human rights defenders | Special rapporteur calls on authorities to stop silencing dissent and shrinking civic space in country | Fri, 01/22/2021 – 21: 23 | Egypt has embarked on brutal crackdown on dissent since 2013, jailing more than 60,000 activists (AFP) | A UN rights expert condemned Egypt for targeting journalists, human rights defenders and their fam…

New Unions (2021-01-22). Palestinian Striking Workers Triumph. socialistproject.ca After 19 days of an open-ended strike demanding their human and labour rights, Palestinian workers at Yamit have suspended their strike on January 20. The workers' committee has reached this decision following an agreement with the company to meet their demands. The agreement, which still needs to go through legal procedures in Israeli courts, states …

Staff (2021-01-22). The Eric Brandt story: How a controversial cop watcher became one of the most successful police reformers in the US. therealnews.com Known for his role in the Occupy Denver movement and his controversial, even profane, manner of exercising his First Amendment rights, Eric Brandt has been arrested roughly 200 times while protesting police brutality and advocating for reform. But he's also quietly racked up key victories in court.

IMEMC News (2021-01-22). Four More Detainees Diagnosed With Coronavirus In Ramon Prison. imemc.org The Palestinian Prisoners' Society (PPS) has reported that four additional detainees, held in the Ramon Israeli prison, have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, raising the number of infected political prisoners to seventy-three this month. In a statement released Friday, the PPS said the detainees who have been officially diagnosed with the virus are held in …

Brett Wilkins, staff writer (2021-01-22). Rights Advocates Alarmed by US Spy Agency's Purchase of Warrantless Phone Location Data. commondreams.org "Congress must end this lawless practice and require the government to get a warrant for our location data, regardless of its source." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

_____ (2021-01-22). Local Activists Call Attention To Housing Rights. popularresistance.org Graham, North Carolina – Amy Cooper said she and a handful of other activists came together at Court Square in Graham on Wednesday for an event touting tenants' rights while decrying evictions. | "A lot of landlords take advantage of people not knowing their rights, so one of the things we want to do is push tenants' rights so people know what they can and can't do as a tenant," Cooper said. | Cooper's thoughts echo criticism from housing advocates across the country. Last Wednesday, housing rights advocates held simultaneous nationwide demonstrations in the hopes of sparking a paradigm shift away from the curren…

WorkWeeek (2021-01-22). Thursday 1/21: SF BayView Editor Malik Washington Journalist Rights & Google Firing Of Dr. Timnit Gebru. indybay.org KPOO.COM San Francisco | KPOO 98.5 FM…

Cassie Miller and Hannah Gais (2021-01-22). Capitol Insurrection Shows How Trends On The Far-Right's Fringe Have Become Mainstream. splcenter.org Researchers studying the far right have sounded the alarm over the threat posed by the rapid proliferation of conspiracy theories, disinformation and misinformation for years, noting that shifts in the extreme right's mobilization tactics could present new challenges to stemming a tide of violence.

WSWS (2021-01-22). Ferdinand von Schirach's Enemies: German public television puts police torture up for consideration. wsws.org The German public television network ARD began the new year with a controversial programme examining the value of police using torture to compel suspects to confess.

grants.gov (2021-01-22). Advocacy to Preserve Cultural Heritage in Africa. grants.gov SFOP0007534 | Funding Opportunity ID: | 330786 | Opportunity Number: | SFOP0007534 | Opportunity Title: | Advocacy to Preserve Cultural Heritage in Africa | Opportunity Category: | Discretionary | Opportunity Category Explanation: | Funding Instrument Type: | Grant | Category of Funding Activity: | Other (see text field entitled "Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity" for clarification) | Category Explanation: | Democracy Fund/Human Rights Democracy Fund | CFDA Number(s): | 19.345 | Eligible Applicants: | Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Elig…

Staff (2021-01-21). Headlines for January 21, 2021. democracynow.org Joe Biden Sworn In as 46th President of the United States, Ending Trump Era, Kamala Harris Sworn In as Vice President, Setting Several Historic Firsts, Biden Signs Executive Orders on Environment, Immigration, Civil Rights, Economy & Pandemic, Biden Unveils Pandemic Strategy as U.S. COVID-19 Deaths Near Record High, VP Harris Swears In Three Senators, Giving Democrats Narrow Control of Senate, Senate Confirms Avril Haines as Director of National Intelligence, House to Vote on Waiver Paving Path for Retired General Lloyd Austin to Lead Pentagon, President Biden Fires Union-Busting Lawyer Who Refused to Resign from…

Judy Greenspan (2021-01-21). WW Commentary: The criminal injustice system is a bipartisan effort. workers.org Family members and prisoners' rights advocates gather outside the Contra Costa County Jail in Martinez to demand release of a prisoner suffering from medical neglect during the COVID pandemic. On Jan. 15 at the death row prison in Terre Haute, Ind., with less than a week to go of Donald . . . |

Judy Greenspan (2021-01-21). The criminal injustice system is a bipartisan effort. workers.org Family members and prisoners' rights advocates gather outside the Contra Costa County Jail in Martinez to demand the release of a prisoner suffering from medical neglect during the COVID pandemic. On Jan. 15 at the death row prison in Terre Haute, Ind., with less than a week to go of . . . |

Dr. Pascal Sacré (2021-01-21). The COVID-19 RT-PCR Test: How to Mislead All Humanity. Using a "Test" To Lock Down Society. globalresearch.ca The misuse of the RT-PCR technique is used as an intentional strategy by some governments, supported by scientific safety councils and by the dominant media, to justify the violation of a large number of constitutional rights, the destruction of the economy with the bankruptcy of entire active sectors of society,…

MEE staff (2021-01-21). HRW demands probe into French air strike in central Mali. middleeasteye.net HRW demands probe into French air strike in central Mali | Residents say about 20 civilians were killed when air strike targeted village during segregated wedding party | Thu, 01/21/2021 – 22: 51 | French military said fighter jet had struck jihadist group at location north of village, killing several dozen combatants (AFP) | Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged France and Mali to "promptly and impartially" investig…

MEE and agencies (2021-01-21). Tunisian groups say police arrested 1,000 people over six days of protests. middleeasteye.net Tunisian groups say police arrested 1,000 people over six days of protests | Rights groups said civilians who voiced support for protests on Facebook during the crackdown were also detained | Thu, 01/21/2021 – 14: 17 | Police used rubber bullets and water cannons against anti-government protests who hurled rocks and petrol bombs (AFP) | Tunisian security forces have arrested at least 1,000…

RT (2021-01-21). In non-binding resolution, EU parliament calls for new anti-Russia sanctions that would stop Nord Stream 2 over Navalny's arrest. rt.com An EU parliament resolution, backed by 581 MEPs out of 675 present, directs members to ramp up sanctions against Russia to stop the Nord Stream 2 project "once and for all," linking it to opposition figure Alexey Navalny's arrest. | The EU member states should take "an active stance" on Navalny's 30-day arrest in Russia. This is according to a non-binding

RT (2021-01-21). In non-binding resolution, EU parliament calls for new anti-Russia sanctions in attempt to stop Nord Stream 2 over Navalny arrest. rt.com An EU parliament resolution, backed by 581 MEPs out of 675 present, has directed its member states to ramp up sanctions against Russia to stop the Nord Stream 2 project "once and for all," linking it to Alexey Navalny's arrest. | The EU member states should take "an active stance" on the opposition figure's 30-day arrest in Russia. This is according to a non-binding

RT (2021-01-21). Politicians among 48 arrested in huge Italian bust on 'Ndrangheta mafia, hundreds of millions in cash seized. rt.com Anti-mafia police carried out sweeping early-morning raids against Italy's most powerful mafia, the 'Ndrangheta, on Thursday, arresting 48 people and placing the leader of a political party under investigation. | Officers from the Direzione Investigativa AntiMafia (DIA) immediately jailed 13 people, while 35 were placed under house arrest, with multiple politicians, low-level mob bosses and businessmen among those detained, according to local media. | The crackdown on the organized crime syndicate, based in Calabria, southern Italy, primarily targeted the economic arm of its operations, which prosecutors said…

IMEMC & Agencies (2021-01-21). Major Victory for BDS Movement in Spanish Court Ruling. imemc.org The Electronic Intifada Activists in Spain are celebrating a big legal win against Israel lobby efforts to punish support for Palestinian rights. Their victory also exposes a lie that European Union officials are spreading to discredit BDS — the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. On 11 January a court in Valencia dismissed a criminal complaint …

Sapan Maini-Thompson (2021-01-21). Assange cannot be extradited, but free speech arguments dismissed — an extended look. ukhumanrightsblog.com In The Government of the United States v Julian Assange (2021), the District Judge sitting at Westminster Magistrates' Court discharged the American extradition request against the founder of WikiLeaks because there is a substantial risk that he would commit suicide. Given Julian Assange's political notoriety as an avowed whistle-blower, however, the judgment is significant for …

Mirinda Crissman (2021-01-21). WW commentary: Diet discrimination in prisons, jails, and detention centers. workers.org Imam Siddiqui Abdullah Hasan, on death row in Ohio, was falsely convicted of the murder of a guard during the 1993 Lucasville prison rebellion. The rebellion started after Muslim prisoners objected to being forced to take a tuberculosis test containing alcohol, in violation of their religious practice. The interlocking systems . . . |

Robert Kellar QC (2021-01-21). "Wrongful Life" Revisited. ukhumanrightsblog.com In Evie Toombes v. Dr. Philip Mitchell [2020] EWHC 3506 the High Court has given renewed consideration to claims for, so called, "wrongful life". Can a disabled person ever claim damages on the basis that they would not have been born but for the defendant's negligence? The Court answered that question with a resounding "yes". …

PCHR (2021-01-21). PCHR: Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. imemc.org The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Summary for January 14 — 20, 2021 Israeli occupation forces (IOF) continued to commit crimes and multi-layered violations against Palestinian civilians and their properties, including raids into Palestinian cities that are characterized with excessive use of …

Mirinda Crissman (2021-01-21). Diet discrimination in prisons, jails, and detention centers. workers.org The interlocking systems of prisons, jails and detention centers were built up by descendants of those made rich from colonial conquest of this continent. The prison-industrial complex continues to benefit this very class of people every day by its existence. As the Prisoners Solidarity Committee of Workers World Party stated . . . |

Tracy Keeling (2021-01-21). Dozens of experts call on Longleat to give the 'UK's loneliest elephant' her last chance for companionship. thecanary.co Dozens of experts have thrown their weight behind calls for giving the ' Anne, who currently resides at Longleat Safari and Adventure Park, hasn't seen another elephant for 19 years. A French sanctuary has

Kenny Stancil, staff writer (2021-01-21). 135 Civil Rights Groups Oppose New Domestic Terrorism Statutes, Say Tackle Far-Right Violence With Existing Laws. commondreams.org "Members of Congress should not reinforce counterterrorism policies, programs, and frameworks that are rooted in bias, discrimination, and denial or diminution of fundamental rights like due process." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

Steve Watson (2021-01-21). Barrage of New Countries and Airlines to Adopt Vaccine Passports. globalresearch.ca New York Times admits schemes could lead to "a dystopic system that would limit the rights of people who have been careful to avoid infection and are unable or unwilling to be vaccinated" | *** | Several more countries have indicated that …

_____ (2021-01-21). Martin Luther King's Radical Anticapitalism. popularresistance.org In a posthumously published essay, Martin Luther King, Jr. pointed out that the "black revolution" had gone beyond the "rights of Negroes." The struggle, he said, is "forcing America to face all of its interrelated flaws—racism, poverty, militarism and materialism. It is exposing the evils that are rooted deeply in the whole structure of our society. It reveals systemic rather than superficial flaws and suggests that radical reconstruction of society itself is the real issue to be faced." | But it had not started out that way. Over the course of a decade, the black struggle opened up a deeper interrogation…

commondreams (2021-01-21). 135 Civil Rights Organizations Oppose a New Domestic Terrorism Charge. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Pip Hinman (2021-01-21). Medevac refugees released from torture centres, activists vow to continue the campaign. greenleft.org.au The release of refugees from detention has given activists hope that there will be a change in policy. But, as Chloe DS writes, they won't stop organising until all refugees are released from onshore and offshore prisons and given permanent protection.

Commonwealth Club (2021-01-21). Wednesday 2/3: Talk on the Mothers of the Civil Rights Movement w/ Author Anna Malaika Tubbs. indybay.org Online event…

Peoples Dispatch (2021-01-21). China sanctions Trump administration officials including Pompeo, Bolton and Bannon. peoplesdispatch.org 28 officials of the Donald Trump administration were sanctioned for having "seriously violated China's sovereignty" and being "mainly responsible for such US moves on China-related issues."

_____ (2021-01-21). How use of drones to secure borders threatens all our rights. truepublica.org.uk A new report published by Drone Wars UK investigates the increasing use of military-style drones by governments to patrol state borders. The study, which examines the use of drones at the borders of the UK, EU, US, Russia, China, Australia and elsewhere, concludes that drones are contributing to the militarisation of everyday borders as part …

WSWS (2021-01-21). New York City educators call for unified struggle with striking Hunts Point market workers! wsws.org Our brothers and sisters at Hunts Point have taken a courageous stand for the rights of workers everywhere, and we call on them to form their own rank-and-file committee independent of the Teamsters to carry forward their struggle.

Brett Wilkins, staff writer (2021-01-20). 'Pure Sadism': Biden Blasted for Continuing Trump's Recognition of Guaid√≥ Coup Regime and Deadly Sanctions in Venezuela. commondreams.org "How about a new Good Neighbor Policy on non-interference?" asked CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

Al-Mezan Center For Human Rights (2021-01-20). Press Release: Al Mezan welcomes the Palestinian President's decree to hold parliamentary and presidential elections. imemc.org Al Mezan Center for Human Rights welcomes the decree, issued by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, that announces parliamentary and presidential elections for later this year. The first such elections in almost 16 years, this step is long overdue and holds weighty expectations for the renewal of legitimacy to state institutions and unification of the Palestinian …

IMEMC News (2021-01-20). Fifteen More Detainees Contract Coronavirus In Ramon Israeli Prison. imemc.org The Palestinian Prisoners' Society (PPS) has reported, Wednesday, that fifteen more detainees have been officially diagnosed with the coronavirus in Ramon Israeli prison, bringing the number of infected detainees in the facility to fifty-three since January 11th, and increasing the total number of infected political prisoners in Israeli prisons and detention centers to more than …

Kenny Stancil, staff writer (2021-01-20). Progressive International Calls on Biden to End Illegal US Sanctions Responsible for 'Untold Death and Devastation'. commondreams.org "Biden must take urgent action to restore the right of all countries to have sovereign relations with the world, untrammeled by U.S. interference through their sanctions policy." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

commondreams (2021-01-20). Human Rights Challenges Remain in Biden Executive Actions on Restoring the Right to Seek Safety in the U.S. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Marcy Rein (2021-01-20). Can We Crack the Right's White Bloc? These Organizers Say Yes. zcomm.org Deep canvass conversations, storytelling, acknowledges people's experiences while suggesting a different way to understand and respond…

Colin Todhunter (2021-01-20). Indian Farmers on the Frontline Against Global Capitalism. counterpunch.org In a short video on the empirediaries.com YouTube channel, a protesting farmer camped near Delhi says that during lockdown and times of crisis farmers are treated like "gods", but when they ask for their rights, they are smeared and labelled as "terrorists". He, along with thousands of other farmers, are mobilising against three important pieces of farm legislation that

Lawrence Davidson (2021-01-20). A Brief But Portentous Insurrection. counterpunch.org There is a difference between attempts to change policy through public pressure and seeking to change the very nature of government through an insurrection. The civil rights protests of the late 1950s and 1960s; the anti-war protests of the latter half of the 1960s and early 1970s; more civil rights protests (these have occurred repeatedly)

teleSUR (2021-01-20). China Sanctions 28 Trump Officials, Pompeo Included. telesurenglish.net The Chinese government-sanctioned on Wednesday former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo alongside 27 officials of Trump's administration who "seriously violated China's sovereignty and who have been mainly responsible for the such U.S. moves on China-related issues." | RELATED: | The Foreign Ministry remarked in a statement that "over the past few years, some anti-China politicians in the United States, out of their…