(2021-05-14). Republicans Want Biden to End Iran Talks Over Gaza Violence. news.antiwar.com Republican Iran hawks are jumping on the ongoing violence in Gaza and using it to argue for President Biden to end the ongoing negotiations with Iran in Vienna to revive the nuclear deal. | On Thursday, "We call on you to immediately end negotiations with Iran, and make clear that sanctions relief will not be provided," <...
(2021-05-13). New York County Jails May Close Their Doors to ICE. thenation.com 
The Dignity Not Detention Act mirrors legislative efforts to take on the rogue agency in states like Maryland and California.
(2021-05-13). Discriminatory Return to In Office Work Mandates Could Push Women and People of Color out of the Workforce. aclu.org On March 5, when Deb Mihal learned that the governor of South Carolina had just ordered non-essential state employees like herself to return to the office in person and full time with just a few weeks' notice, she knew it was going to be a problem. Ms. Mihal had been doing her job as director of disability services for a public college remotely since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, in addition to supervising her son's remote schooling at the same time. Now, she had less than a month to find child care. | It was too late to switch her son from remote instruction to in-person learning, and she couldn't…
(2021-05-13). Venezuela Seeks To Boost Its Economy Through E-Commerce. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro said Wednesday that his country will create an e-commerce system to boost businesses and stimulate the economy, which has been severely hit by the U.S. blockade and the pandemic. | RELATED: | "The Commerce to Person (C2P) system will allow the Venezuelans to free themselves from the use of paper money. This technological proposal will help us overcome the sanctions' impact and assist the needs…
(2021-05-13). The Lack of Transparency Marks COVID-19 Response in Guatemala. telesurenglish.net The Human Rights Ombudsman's Office described Guatemala's response to the COVID-19 pandemic as a failure and decried the lack of vaccines. | RELATED: | "The response of the Government to the pandemic has been marked by great mistakes and opacity, which has resulted in the systematic violation of the human right to health of all inhabitants," Ombudsman Jordan Rodas said. | "To date, health institutions lack special…
(2021-05-13). South African social movement Abahlali baseMjondolo: The blood of the Palestinians is our blood. liberationnews.org 
This statement in solidarity with Palestine was issued by Abahlali baseMjondolo, a major social movement in South Africa fighting for the rights of the poor who are struggling against forced displacement and for the right to dignified housing.
(2021-05-13). From Palestine To Colombia: The End Of The White World Colonial/Capitalist Project? popularresistance.org The world is shocked by the image of an eleven-story residential building in Gaza collapsing from a bomb dropped by the Israeli Defense Force, one of the most advanced armies in the world thanks to U.S. support. But in the U.S., Andrew Yang, former presidential candidate and now candidate for mayor of New York, proudly proclaims that he stands with the heroic people of Israel who are under attack from the vicious, occupied Palestinians who have no army, no rights, and no state. | But as politically and morally contradictory as Yang's sentiments might appear to be for many, the alternative world of Western liberal…
(2021-05-13). All out for Palestine! workers.org 
Credit: Samidoun Palestinians in Jerusalem, in Gaza, throughout Palestine and in exile are fighting for their rights and their lives after 73 years of Nakba (the Catastrophe—meaning the founding of Israel). On May 11 alone, Israeli drone warplanes killed 24 Palestinian civilians, including nine children, in Gaza. Hundreds of Palestinians . . . |
(2021-05-13). Did Israel Exacerbate the situation in Gaza to shift attention from its Sheikh Jarrah evictions? juancole.com By Yousef A-Helou | — ( Middle East Monitor ) — It seems it is the fate of Palestinians to face the worst of apartheid policies under Israel's military occupation. Denial of rights, dispossessions, expulsions, evictions, ID confiscations, house demolitions, land grabs, airstrikes, tank shelling, targeted assassinations, warships, refugees, military occupation. These are terms among …
(2021-05-13). "Lynch Mobs": Palestinians Face Brutal Attacks Inside Israel as Assault on Gaza Escalates. democracynow.org 
Televised images of Israeli mobs attacking Palestinians have been widely denounced by Israeli media and public figures, but Palestinian writer Budour Hassan says the selective outrage ignores decades of occupation that have led to this point. "There is some mention of these lynch mobs that are attacking Palestinians in mixed cities. What is not mentioned is who emboldened these lynch mobs. We're talking about state-sponsored, decades-long discrimination, isolation and erasure that emboldened these groups," says Hassan, legal researcher for the Jerusalem Center for Legal Aid and Human Rights, who joins us from Naz…
(2021-05-13). Jerusalem to Gaza, Israeli Authorities' Escalation Highlights Reality of Apartheid, Persecution for Millions of Palestinians. juancole.com By Omar Shakir | Israel and Palestine Director | — ( Human Rights Watch) — Forcible takeovers of homes, brutal suppression of demonstrators, places of worship under assault, identity-based communal violence, indiscriminate rocket attacks, children killed in strikes: what to make of the dizzying headlines out of Israel and Palestine in recent days? Without doubt, …
(2021-05-13). Trump's Obsessive Attacks Won't Silence Ilhan Omar's Defense of Palestinian Human Rights. thenation.com Trump's Obsessive Attacks Won't Silence Ilhan Omar's Defense of Palestinian Human Rights…
(2021-05-13). If I Fall in the Struggle, Take My Place. dissidentvoice.org 
Tiger Tateishi (Japan), Samurai, the Watcher (Koya no Yojinbo), 1965. Ugliness defines the mood of state violence from Cali (Colombia) to Durban (South Africa), each context different and the depth of the violence particular to the location. Images of security forces cracking down on people trying to express their political rights have become commonplace. It …
(2021-05-13). Poet Mohammed El-Kurd Detained in Sheikh Jarrah After Condemning Israeli Apartheid on U.S. TV. democracynow.org 
On Monday, we spoke to writer and poet Mohammed El-Kurd, whose family is facing forceful eviction from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem. He also spoke on CNN and MSNBC. After these interviews, Israeli forces arrested him and forcibly removed him from Sheikh Jarrah. It was captured in a dramatic video shared widely on social media. "They just threw me in the street and told me that I couldn't come back into the neighborhood," El-Kurd says. "They've done this many times to us, many of my family members, many of my neighbors. They do this routinely." El-Kurd has been one of the most prominent Palestinian…
(2021-05-13). Indigenous Rights Defenders Condemn Government Probe Into Critics of Bolsonaro's Covid Response. commondreams.org A federal judge denounced an investigation into two Indigenous leaders as "an illegal embarrassment." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2021-05-13). Biden Administration to Review Sanctions Policy Against Venezuela. orinocotribune.com The administration of US President Joe Biden is reviewing its policy of illegal unilateral measures, also called "sanctions," against Venezuela, reported Bloomberg. | "The relationship between the United States and Venezuela is under quiet review, " wrote the US outlet. Bloomberg also claimed that US figures with access to the Biden administration are talking to the "inner circle" of the government of President Nicolás Maduro. Among them are House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory Meeks, former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, and World Food Program Director David Beasley. The latter is the executive…
(2021-05-13). Uruguay: Military Withheld Information on Dictatorship Crimes. telesurenglish.net The "Mothers and Relatives of Detained and Disappeared People" Organization (Desaparecidos) decried the concealment of information related to the crimes committed by Uruguay's military dictatorship (1973-1985). | RELATED: | Over the weekend, files were found in a military unit containing intelligence reports and orders from the Information and Defense Service (SID) and the Coordinating Body for Anti-Subversive Ope…
(2021-05-13). 'It's Like a Black Hole': ICE Has Been Holding Kids in Indefinite Detention. thenation.com 'It's Like a Black Hole': ICE Has Been Holding Kids in Indefinite Detention…
(2021-05-13). UN expresses concern over deteriorating human rights situation in Algeria. peoplesdispatch.org The United Nations has
(2021-05-13). Workers and youth condemn Australian government ban on citizens returning from India. wsws.org Lalit said the travel ban "reminds me of the White Australia policy. It could very well set a precedent for the future. The Australian constitution does not have a bill of rights or freedom of speech."
(2021-05-13). INDEPAZ Confirms Murder Of Another Social Leader In Colombia. telesurenglish.net Colombia's Institute for Development and Peace Studies (INDEPAZ) on Wednesday reported the murder of women's rights defender Cecilia Valderrama in the Chaparral municipality, Tolima Department. | RELATED: | The leader of the El Escobal Women's Association (ASMUES) was found dead with signs of violence in a pasture on Wednesday. | Her neighbors last saw her on Tuesday at 18h00 local time, when she left her residence to a nearby road to wait fo…
(2021-05-13). On the books: Better Read Than Dead workers fight for rights. greenleft.org.au Precarious bookshop workers are fighting for better working conditions and rights, reports Isaac Nellist.
(2021-05-13). Senate Judiciary Committee Splits Vote Along Party Lines on Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Nominee. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2021-05-13). Friday 5/21: Mental Health Rights and Resources Video Forum on Friday May 21st 5pm. indybay.org Online video…
(2021-05-13). Venezuela's Arreaza asks EFE for Respect and Quality: Guaidó's Last Attempt at Revival (+Luis Vicente León). orinocotribune.com The Spanish news agency EFE reported though its Twitter account that former deputy "Guaidó proposes to negotiate with the Venezuelan government and advocates lifting the sanctions." | The headline adorned with the animated gif format image displaying "Breaking News" is the smooth and convenient read of what was a 5.40 minute display of threats and blackmail by the former deputy of the National Assembly. | The information is such a deliberate makeup and that so without context, that Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza did not let it pass without a comment. This was within the context of a revival of…
(2021-05-13). French Association Asks Biden To Stop US Blockade Against Cuba. telesurenglish.net France's Cuba Cooperation Association (CubaCoop) on Thursday urged U.S. President Joe Biden to put an end to the 60-year-old blockade imposed by his country on the Caribbean island. | RELATED: | "If Biden wants to help the Cuban population, he would put an end to the over 240 unilateral sanctions imposed by his predecessor Donald Trump, who also reinforced the blockade against this neighboring country," CubaCoop stated.
(2021-05-13). Iran-Russia-China trilateral meeting held in Vienna. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 13 (MNA) — The heads of the Russian and Chinese delegations, in a meeting with the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Araghchi in Vienna, reiterated their support for the effective lifting of sanctions against the Iranian people.
(2021-05-12). Can the Criminal Justice System Be Reformed? PBS Series "Philly D.A." Follows Larry Krasner's Efforts. democracynow.org 
Four years ago, the longtime civil rights attorney Larry Krasner shocked the political establishment in Philadelphia by being elected district attorney. Now he faces a tough reelection next week. We delve into his record as captured in a new eight-part series by PBS "Independent Lens" that follows how Krasner, who had sued the Philadelphia Police Department 75 times during his career, ran on a platform of ending mass incarceration and has fought to overhaul the DA's Office. "Is change possible in an institution like this?" asks series co-creator Ted Passon. "Why or why not?" We also speak with co-creator Nicole S…
(2021-05-12). Mysterious Explosion Hit Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham HQ In Greater Idlib. Casualties Reported. southfront.org 
Illustrative image | Early on May 12th, a large explosion rocked headquarters of al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the de-facto ruler of the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib, near the town of al-Abzamo in western Aleppo. | According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a militant was killed and two others were injured as a result of the mysterious explosion."The militants used to work in planting and dismantling i…
(2021-05-12). Colombia's Leaders Want to Stain Their Country with the Blood of the Working Class. counterpunch.org 
According to Temblores and Indepaz, two human rights organizations that have been tracking reports of police violence, from April 28 to May 8, the violent actions of the state security forces resulted in the death of at least 47 people, the arbitrary detention of 963 people, 28 victims of eye-related injuries, and 12 victims of sexual violence. In total, they registered 1,876 cases of police violence.
(2021-05-12). Colombia's Leaders Want to Stain Their Country with the Blood of the Working Class. counterpunch.org According to Temblores and Indepaz, two human rights organizations that have been tracking reports of police violence, from April 28 to May 8, the violent actions of the state security forces resulted in the death of at least 47 people, the arbitrary detention of 963 people, 28 victims of eye-related injuries, and 12 victims of sexual violence. In total, they registered 1,876 cases of police violence.
(2021-05-12). China Urges the US to Lift Sanctions Against Venezuela. orinocotribune.com The government of China demanded an end to the coercive measures of the United States administration against Venezuela, calling the unilateral sanctions illegal and highlighting that the coercive measures were intensified amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the fact that the sanctions are violating human rights. | China's position was ratified by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hua Chunying, who pointed out that while Washington presents itself as a defender of legal guarantees and human rights, it nonetheless is intensifying its illegal measures, not only against Venezuela, but also agains…
(2021-05-12). Vaccine Production and Open Source Technology. counterpunch.org Since the Biden administration announced its decision to support a motion at the WTO to waive patent rights on vaccines for the duration of the pandemic, we have been deluged with statements by experts telling us that this cannot possibly increase vaccine production. The argument is that everyone who can produce vaccines is already producing
(2021-05-12). Economics of the new cold war and US 'super imperialism' with economist Michael Hudson. thegrayzone.com The Grayzone's Max Blumenthal and Ben Norton interview world-renowned economist Michael Hudson on his concept of American "super imperialism" and the economics of the new cold war on China and Russia. In this wide-ranging discussion on the Moderate Rebels podcast, Hudson addresses US sanctions on Venezuela and Iran, the policies of the Joe Biden administration, Beijing's economic model, cryptocurrencies, and dedollarization — the potential end to the dollar as the global reserve currency. Transcript Ben Norton 0: 03 Hello everyone, I'm …
(2021-05-12). Can President Biden's planned Waiving of Covid Vaccination Patents: begin a grassroots movement against Big Pharma? juancole.com Southwest Harbor, Maine (Special to Informed Comment) — When the Biden Administration announced it would no longer oppose suspension of Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) standards regarding production of COVID vaccines and therapies, there was joy in the world health lobby and anguish in the big pharma camp. Understandable as these reactions …
(2021-05-12). Survivors of racist police killings and 170 groups ask for UN probe. peoplesworld.org 
NEW YORK—The families of hundreds of unarmed Black Americans killed by cops in the last 20 years, plus the Communist Party USA and 169 other groups, have formally asked the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to comprehensively investigate and report on the slayings, along with recommendations for reform. The party's signature aligns with its …
(2021-05-12). New York Attorney General Tish James Is Gunning for the NRA and She Just Got Her 1st Kill. theroot.com 
A federal judge dismissed the National Rifle Association's bankruptcy case Tuesday, noting that it wasn't filed in good faith as the gun rights group and the backbone of America's violent history only filed the suit because they were afraid of Tish James. |
(2021-05-12). In Philippines, death of COVID-19-infected political detainee reveals plight of prisoners. peoplesdispatch.org 59-year-old Joseph Canlas was arrested on March 30 in the latest wave of repression by the Rodrigo Duterte regime. His death has brought national attention to the plight of inmates held in prisons in the Philippines…
(2021-05-12). 'Don't Approve Brazil's OECD Membership', NGOs Ask. telesurenglish.net Over 60 Non-Governmental Organizations requested that Brazil's entry into the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) not be approved because President Jair Bolsonaro's policies undermine the protection of Amazonian ecosystems and Indigenous peoples. | RELATED: | "Current environmental protection and human rights policies are incompatible with what is expected of an OECD country and should be taken into acc…
(2021-05-12). Appleton, WI: Fox Valley communities celebrate May Day. fightbacknews.org Appleton, WI – On May 1, over 40 people gathered in downtown Appleton at Houdini Plaza to commemorate International Workers' Day, or May Day. There were speeches from multiple local organizations. The Appleton Students for a Democratic Society, Wisconsin Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Sunrise Appleton, Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, AFT Local 6511, Wisconsin Bail Out People Movement, and United Action Oshkosh joined together for this important holiday. | Union power, indigenous rights, ending corporate greed, smashing capitalism and celeb…
(2021-05-12). What Kind of People Associate with an Alleged Pedophile? dissidentvoice.org Why are Cindy Blackstock, Charles Taylor, Pearl Eliadis, Murray Sinclair and Thomas Mulcair publicly associating themselves with alleged pedophile Alan Dershowitz? Why are the indigenous advocate, philosopher, human rights lawyer, former senator and former NDP leader supporting the anti-Palestinian lobby's bid to crush a small left-wing Toronto restaurant? Why have they offered their names to …
(2021-05-12). State Dept: Blinken and Lavrov To Meet in Iceland Next Week. telesurenglish.net The State Department announced that Blinken and Lavrov agreed on a phone call that the two will meet in Reykjavik, Iceland, on the sidelines of the Arctic Council meeting. The two foreign ministers plan to discuss an array of issues, including the detention of two Americans in Russia and U.S. policy toward the DPRK (North Korea). | RELATED: | "Secretary Blinken reiterated President Biden's resolve to protect U.S. citizens and act…
(2021-05-12). Myanmar: UN rights experts urge business 'to take a stand' against military junta. news.un.org United Nations independent rights experts on Wednesday urged businesses in Myanmar to uphold their human rights responsibilities and apply pressure on the military junta to halt grave human rights violations against its own people.
(2021-05-12). SOS: Will the World Answer the Calls for Help? counterpunch.org With tears in her eyes my South American friend and colleague asked for help: "can you please share this story with the world?" SOS is Morse code for distress—Save Our Ship. "SOS Colombia" is a call to protect human rights, end the violence, and stop the militarization of cities and police departments in Colombia. My
(2021-05-12). Three Defendants in The Arbery Hate Crime Plead Not Guilty. telesurenglish.net Three men on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to federal hate crime charges over the death of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man who was shot while jogging in Georgia last year. | RELATED: | Gregory McMichael, his son Travis, and William Bryan appeared in person before the federal judge in Brunswick, Georgia. The men were each charged with one count of interference with civil rights and with one count of attempted kidnap…
(2021-05-12). Rights organizations condemn deadly attacks in Afghanistan. peoplesdispatch.org The blasts took place in Kabul's Dasht-e-Barchi area and the Shahr-e-Safa district in southern Zabul province. The United Nation Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reported that 573 civilians were killed in the first three months of 2021…
(2021-05-12). The Right Wing Has Always Been Pro-'Cancel Culture'. commondreams.org "From brutalizing protestors to rolling back voting rights, don't get it confused: The right has always tried to 'cancel' the views it despises." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2021-05-12). Asylum and the Right to Security. counterpunch.org The right to security We're seeing the dark and looming shape of a breakdown in the global system of asylum and refuge-seeking. It takes the form of a hardening of state attitudes, a disregard for refugees' dignity and legal rights, and a calculation on the part of those responsible for systematic mistreatment of refugees that
(2021-05-12). Resumption of Additional Protocol requiring sanctions lifting. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 12 (MNA) — Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs said that the resumption of voluntary application of Additional Protocols by Iran is predicated on sanctions being lifted.
(2021-05-12). US Special Forces Trained Mexican Drug Cartels. orinocotribune.com US military forces trained Mexican drug cartels that committed beheadings, torture, and rapes. This was reported in detail in a recent The Los Zetas cartel, which in its beginnings was the armed wing of the Gulf Cartel [Cartel del Golfo], is one of the most notorious examples of the relation between the US military and drug traffi…