(2021-06-10). Headlines for June 10, 2021. democracynow.org Biden Set to Announce U.S. Donation of 500 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Doses to Poorer Nations, WTO to Start Negotiations on COVID Vaccine Patent Waivers, 8 Months After They Were Proposed, India Logs Pandemic-High Daily Death Toll; COVID Surges in Haiti, Where 0% Are Vaccinated, 10 Killed in Afghanistan as ISIS Attacks Mine-Clearing Charity, Rights Group Says Colombian Police Have Killed at Least 20 Anti-Government Protesters, U.S. to Keep Trump-Era Sanctions on Iran Even If Nuclear Deal Is Restored, AG Merrick Garland Explains DOJ Decision to Defend Trump in Defamation Case, TC Energy Cancels Keystone XL Pipeline…
(2021-06-10). UN Human Rights Committee Calls for Suspension of Alex Saab's Extradition. orinocotribune.com 
On June 8, the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee asked the Government of Cape Verde to suspend the extradition of Venezuelan diplomat and businessman Alex Saab while the international body is analyzing the case. | The committee's resolution includes a series of measures requested to Cape Verde to guarantee Saab's human rights, including access to independent medical professionals chosen by him to assess his health condition that, according to his legal team and relatives, has been deteriorating over the course of his detention. The Venezuelan diplomat is suffering from stomach cancer and has been denied…
(2021-06-10). UN Committee Rules on Detention of Venezuelan Diplomat Saab. orinocotribune.com On Tuesday, the United Nations Human Rights Committee ruled on the illegal detention of the Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab and requested the government of Cabo Verde to suspend his extradition process to the United States. In addition, Cabo Verde was requested to take all necessary measures to ensure access to appropriate health care for him. | "Pursuant to Rule 94 of the Committee's rules of procedure, the state party [Cabo Verde] has been requested to refrain from extraditing Mr. Alex Nain Saab Morán to the United States of America while his case is under review by the Committee or until further notice," read…
(2021-06-10). From El Faro English: Harris' Rough Landing in Guatemala. latinorebels.com In her first visit to the region this week, Vice President Kamala Harris' blunt message to Central American migrants ("Do not come") triggered a backlash among human rights defenders and Central America experts for contradicting international asylum laws and appearing insensitive to the reality driving migration.
(2021-06-10). New WHO guidance aims to stamp out rights violations in mental health services. news.un.org New guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO), published on Thursday, calls for providing mental health care that respects human rights and focuses on recovery.
(2021-06-10). Torture Enters the Courtroom. globalresearch.ca For the first …
(2021-06-10). Venezuela's Oil Production Bounces Back as Experts Condemn 'Devastating' Sanctions. venezuelanalysis.com Mark Weisbrot, director of the Washington DC-based Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), denounced the "terrible economic damage" US sanctions have caused in Venezuela.
(2021-06-10). Why are Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela Managing so Well in the Fight Against COVID-19? orinocotribune.com 
By Marc Vandepitte — Jun 8, 2021 | It is curious that the three American countries that are suffering harsh economic sanctions from the United States are doing much better than the others in their fight against covid-19. One thing is certain: the pandemic has highlighted the crisis of the neoliberal and capitalist model. | Actual number of deaths from covid | As in Europe, the coronavirus crisis has hit the American continent hard. Its ratio of deaths due to covid per number of inhabitants is six times higher than in the rest of the world. However, there are three countries that stand out above the rest for…
(2021-06-10). Support a Marxist voice for LGBTQ2S+ rights. workers.org 
New York City Pride, 2019 For over half a century, Workers World newspaper has covered the global struggle to end all forms of discrimination, persecution and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and gender-nonconforming communities. WW has consistently backed up our activist coverage with analysis. In the early 1970s, . . . |
(2021-06-10). Joe Manchin vs. the right to vote. liberationnews.org 
Joe Manchin, millionaire Democratic Party senator from West Virginia, announced his opposition to the For the People Act in an op-ed published in the Charleston Gazette-Mail. The For the People Act, also referred to as "HR 1" or "S 1," is a proposed piece of legislation seeking to dramatically expand voting rights nationwide and act …
(2021-06-10). Sanctions Against Venezuela Are Flagrant Violations of International Law, Says Arreaza. orinocotribune.com 
"The illegal nature of unilateral coercive measures, called sanctions, has been clearly established. They are a flagrant violation of all the principles of international law," said Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza this Wednesday, June 9, during his participation in the virtual panel "Unilateral Coercive Measures: Disrespect of International Law and Grave Human Consequences." | At the event organized by the government of Venezuela and the School of Diplomacy and International Relations of Geneva, Switzerland, Arreaza asserted that Venezuela continues to respect the United Nations Charter, which de…
(2021-06-10). Australian authorities deny medical treatment to detained three-year-old Tamil refugee. wsws.org After being sick for ten days, three-year-old Tharnicaa was finally medevaced to the Australian mainland after developing sepsis.
(2021-06-10). Comparing AR-15 to a Swiss Army knife, federal judge overturns California's assault weapons ban. wsws.org The injunction is a reactionary ruling handed down by a George W. Bush appointee, who seems to otherwise be quite comfortable with the dismantling of democratic, constitutionally guaranteed rights.
(2021-06-10). Palestinian Activist Criticizes Attempts To Sanitize Forced Displacement In Sheikh Jarrah. zcomm.org "Just because you can legalize an evil act doesn't make it any less evil," Mohammed el-Kurd, who was recently detained, told journalist Mehdi Hasan.
(2021-06-09). Headlines for June 9, 2021. democracynow.org VP Harris Meets with Mexico's AMLO, Faces Backlash for Not Visiting U.S. Southern Border, Over 2,000 Migrant Children Might Still Be Separated from Families, Activists Call on Thomson Reuters to Cut Ties with ICE, Biden Ends Weeks-Long Talks on Infrastructure as New Bipartisan Groups Aim to Reach Compromise, Manchin Remains Steadfast in Opposition to Voting Rights Bill in Face of Mounting Pressure, "Planned in Plain Sight": Senate Report Details Security Failures Ahead of Jan. 6 Insurrection, Vaccination Key to Curbing Spread of Delta COVID Variant; CDC Updates Coronavirus Travel Guidance, International Sting Lea…
(2021-06-09). After decades of oppression, Colombian women lead front lines of National Strike. mronline.org 
"Far too many women are fighting—not only for their rights, but for the rights of all," says Yomali Torres, an Afro-Colombian activist. The 26-year-old joined throngs of women in the streets of Colombia over the past month to demand an end to patriarchal oppression at the hands of a U.S.-backed neoliberal state. | June 9, 2021…
(2021-06-09). Rights Group: Colombian Police Cause Deaths of 20 Protesters. latinorebels.com BUCARAMANGA, Colombia (AP) — An international monitoring group on Wednesday accused police officers in Colombia of responsibility for the deaths of 20 people and other violent actions against protesters during recent civil unrest, including sexual abuse, beatings and arbitrary detentions.
(2021-06-09). Venezuela: 'My Concerns About the Special Economic Zones Law'. orinocotribune.com By Pasqualina Curcio — Jun 2, 2021 | It is impossible not to think of maquilas when one hears talk of Special Economic Zones (SEZ). The first thing that comes to mind is cheap labor, violation of labor rights, increased worker exploitation, low or no taxes and exports. This is what characterizes an SEZ according to the World Bank manuals. | Let us ask ourselves the following question: What is it that would make large foreign capitals move so that, instead of investing in their countries, they come to Venezuela or any other nation? Obviously the maximization of their profit. In a capitalist system, given the…
(2021-06-09). Cuba Denounces Europe's Double Standard: Does the Blockade Not Violate Human Rights? orinocotribune.com Cuban authorities have strongly rejected "the farce" of an "artificial" debate held by the European Parliament on "the political situation and human rights" in the Caribbean island nation. | Through a
(2021-06-09). EU Lawmakers Must Not Attack Cuba, French Organization Demands. telesurenglish.net France-Cuba Solidarity Association (FCSA) on Tuesday urged the French Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) not to be part of right-wing maneuvers to attack Cuba in that forum. | Related: | The association released a statement that called on France's MEPs to reject a draft point, presented at European Parliament (EP) by extreme right groups, accusing Cuba on human rights violations. | The Solidarity association poin…
(2021-06-09). Harris Pledges to Return Migrants- It Is Illegal, Advocates Say. telesurenglish.net Human rights organizations Refugees International and the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project also highlighted that returning asylum seekers is illegal and for migrants to seek refuge in the U.S. is legit according to the U.S. and international law. This, like Harris, confirmed that she "believes that if they come to the U.S. borders, they will be turned back."
(2021-06-09). Brazil's Team Agrees To Participate in Copa America. telesurenglish.net Brazil's national football team will participate in the controversial Copa America to be held in the South American country amid growing COVID-19 infections and a widespread campaign by human rights advocates to stop the tournament. | RELATED: | "We are against organizing the Copa America, but we will never say no to the Brazilian national team," the players said in a statement adding that they "are a cohesive group, but with di…
(2021-06-09). With Little Hope for Change through the Ballot Box, Iranian Civil Society Debates Strategy. juancole.com By Tara Sepehri Far | Iran Researcher | — ( Human Rights Watch) — Twenty days before Iran's presidential election, the Guardian Council, which vets the candidates, sent shock waves through the political elite and public by disqualifying two prominent figures: the former speaker of parliament, Ali Larijani, and the current vice president, Eshagh Jahangiri. …
(2021-06-09). Israel Attacks Several Sites in Syria, Killing at Least 11. news.antiwar.com Details are coming in about overnight airstrikes from Israel against multiple targets in Syria, revealing that strikes hit military sites in Damascus, as well as Homs, Hama, and Latakia Provinces. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights The Syrian state media initially reported the strikes, fired from Lebanese airspace, and reported interception of multiple missiles. There were reports of large explosions at several sites, though stat…
(2021-06-09). Children among those allegedly terrorised in Nazareth police 'torture room'. thecanary.co Content warning: This piece contains graphic accounts of violence that some may find distressing. |
(2021-06-09). Prelude to War? US/NATO, Egypt, and Ethiopian Sovereignty. libya360.wordpress.com Ann Garrison Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Ethiopian American activist and community organizer Benyam Kitaw tells Ann Garrison that US hostility toward Ethiopia could lead to further sanctions, economic pressure, and perhaps even war. "The primary issue is Ethiopian sovereignty vs. US/NATO military hegemony." Ethiopia is a nation of more than 112 million people, the second…
(2021-06-09). Mass ICE Detention is Unnecessary — and We Have Proof. aclu.org The cruelty of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency was on full display this past year. The agency refused to take vital measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in its detention centers, even in the face of its Detained immigrants — compelled by the specter of illness and death in ICE's jails — brought ICE to court over the inhuman conditions, with representation from the ACLU and its affiliates th…
(2021-06-09). AOC Blasts Manchin for Dark Money Ties, Suggests He's "Intertwined" With Kochs. truthout.org 
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) on Tuesday questioned whether Sen. Joe Manchin's (D-West Virginia) stated reasons for opposing voting rights legislation and filibuster abolition are as straightforward as he claims they are. | Manchin
(2021-06-09). Resilience, Liberation, and the Interconnectedness of Pride. aclu.org As we enter Pride month, I am reflecting on the interconnectedness of our joy and our struggle. | I am struck by the fact that Pride and Immigrant Heritage month begin just as Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) and Jewish American Heritage Month end. Though Pride should be about our intersectional struggle for freedom, it has not always felt that way. | As I think about all the communities gathering virtually and in-person to celebrate the power and resilience of our queer communities, it's essential to name what our trans, Asian and Pacific Islander, Indigenous, Jewish, Muslim, and Black communities in th…
(2021-06-09). The Anti-Abortion and Anti-Woman Movement Has Been Very Effective. counterpunch.org Ten states are taking federal block grant money intended for programs of social uplift and plowing those funds into anti-abortion groups ("At least 10 states divert federal welfare funding to anti-abortion clinics," Guardian, June 4, 2021). Should those on the left be surprised, and especially those in favor of women's rights and the right of a
(2021-06-09). Supreme Court weighs voting rights in a pivotal Arizona case. nationofchange.org The case considers two Arizona laws that place limits on how and when Arizonans can vote.
(2021-06-09). Illinois voters to decide on worker rights constitutional amendment. peoplesworld.org 
SPRINGFIELD, Ill.—In yet another example of how state elections make—and will make—a practical difference in workers' lives and livelihoods, Illinois voters will decide in November 2022 whether to enshrine the right to collective bargaining and a ban on so-called "right to work" laws, in the state constitution. Votes for that referendum in the General Assembly …
(2021-06-09). Poor People's Campaign to March Against Manchin Obstructionism in West Virginia. truthout.org 
Outraged by Joe Manchin's obstruction of Democratic efforts to protect and expand voting rights and end the Senate filibuster, the faith-led Poor People's Campaign has announced it will lead a Moral Monday demonstration in the West Virginia senator's home state next week. | "It's time to march on his office," Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign,
(2021-06-09). Striking educators at Urban Prep Charter Schools victorious. fightbacknews.org Chicago, IL – Teachers and staff at the Urban Prep Academies' three campuses in Chicago won their strike after two days, reaching a tentative labor agreement. The schools serve a predominantly Black community and are all-boys schools, which significantly shaped the demands of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and underscore the importance of this victory. | The teachers won a commitment from management that they would begin to follow special education laws, even after months of rejecting contract language that would secure those same rights. This is a big win for the students. They also won language giving them th…
(2021-06-09). Algerian legal fraternity protests detention of lawyer-activist Abderaouf Arslane. peoplesdispatch.org Abderaouf Arslane is in pre-trial detention since May 25 on charges of being associated with the banned Islamist Rachad movement. His supporters say he is being persecuted for being part of the Hirak protests…
(2021-06-09). Save Democracy, End the Filibuster. counterpunch.org "We shall overcome." — Pete Seeger, Guy Carawan, 1951 (Anthem of the 1960s civil rights movement, based on a gospel song by Charles Albert Tindley, 1901.) Republicans and Democrats are engaged in a frustratingly bitter tug-of-war over laws that give them the power to set the rules we live by. Liberal Democrats are trying to