(2018-11-08). Increase in self-harm and suicides in UK immigration detention centres. wsws.org Reports show that from 2000 to April, 2018 there have been 35 deaths, 14 of which were self-inflicted.
(2018-11-08). As Julian Assange's Health Declines, the Media Obsesses About His Cat. theantimedia.com 
While the media focused on Julian Assange's cat rather than his continuing arbitrary detention, evidence shows that Britain worked hard to force his extradition to Sweden where Assange feared he could then be turned over to the United States. (CN) — Let's start with the cat. You never would have thought one of these beloved felines would …
(2018-11-08). Protesters disrupt Melbourne Cup to demand 'free all refugees'. greenleft.org.au 
Refugee rights activists blocked the main entrance to the Melbourne Cup on November 6. They called on the government to release all the refugees in detention on Manus Island and Nauru. | Whistleblowers, Activists and Citizens' Alliance (WACA) spokesperson Charlotte Lynch said: "We encourage every person of good conscience to examine our complicity in cruelty today. While so-called Australia parties at the Melbourne Cup, children and adults are suffering in detention on Nauru, Manus Island, Christmas Island and in onshore detention centres." | "There are 17 children held under constant surveillance at [Melbourne I…
(2018-11-08). Under Trump, ICE Is Targeting Political Dissidents Like Me. truthout.org After the separation of parents and children at the US-Mexico border this summer renewed uproar over the abuses of the US immigration enforcement agencies, the call to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency charged with detentions and deportations inside the country, began to catch fire. | People protesting ICE for the first time joined those who have been on the front lines of the fight for immigrant justice for decades. While I have been heartened by all who have joined the movement to end detentions and deportations, my own activism has come at a cost: Some leading activists like myself…
(2018-11-08). Confronting Trump's Creeping Authoritarianism. zcomm.org This is not the time to negotiate with an administration that systematically and repeatedly violates human rights. This is a time for us to have a strong response…
(2018-11-08). Watch the Leaked Documentary the Israel Lobby Didn't Want You to See. theantimedia.com 
(MPN) — A leaked Al Jazeera documentary detailing the tactics of the Israeli lobby in the United States and elsewhere has revealed that pro-Israel groups regularly invented smears, including false accusations of sexual assault, to discredit professors and students on U.S. university campuses that support equal rights for Palestinians and the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) movement. BDS is …
(2018-11-08). 'March of Empty Chairs' Demands Rights of Disabled Argentines. telesurenglish.net Protesters allege that their human rights have thus far have been considered privileges by the Macri administration.
(2018-11-08). Anakbayan Santa Cruz condemns the state supported extrajudicial killings of Human Rights Rights defenders in the Philippines. indybay.org Anakbayan Santa Cruz denounces the trend of U.S- backed, state supported violence that has resulted in the brutal murder of Atty. Ben Ramos – Secretary General of the National Union of People's Lawyers-Negros Occidental (NUPL). On November 6, 2018 people's lawyer and human rights defender Ben Ramos was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting commissioned by the state to silence yet another activist and defender of the people.
(2018-11-08). State Department: US Will Soon Impose More Sanctions Against Russia. theantimedia.com 
(ANTIWAR.COM) — The US State Department has announced that they intend to soon impose additional sanctions against Russia, after demanding that Russia provide them with a statement offering very specific "assurances" on the use of chemical weapons. This all goes back to the allegations of a March Novichok attack in Salisbury, England. The British government blamed Russia for the …
(2018-11-08). The Trojan Horse In Iran Sanctions And Oil Markets. iranian.com The U.S. sanctions on Iran are not biting yet, as global oil markets are well supplied. In the coming weeks, Iranian crude volumes should show a decline. At the same time, the success of Trump's sanctions relies for a large part on the compliance of international buyers and the position taken by leading OPEC members. […]
(2018-11-08). Chile: Police Strikes for Benefits, Gov't Threatens Sanctions. telesurenglish.net The national strike, which started on Monday, has the support of 98 percent of five police associations composed of approximately 20,000 workers.
(2018-11-08). Trump credits Trump with oil price decline: 'That's because of me'. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump is taking credit for falling oil prices, attributing the drop to the Iranian sanctions waivers he announced on Friday even as market analysts blame him for driving up the prices in the first place.
(2018-11-08). Why Did the US Issue a Sanctions Waiver for Iran's Port of Chabahar? globalresearch.ca Many observers are wondering why the US issued a sanctions waiver for the Indian-built port of Chabahar in southeastern Iran and the railroad project that's supposed to one day extend from it to Afghanistan, but the reason is that America …
(2018-11-08). US Warns All Ports To Block Iranian Ships. iranian.com The US State Department has issued a series of warnings today demanding that all ports in the world avoid even nominal contact with Iranian commercial ships, warning that even limited contact could lead to US sanctions. Among the demands were that all ports and maritime insurance companies "steer clear" of Iranian ships, saying the US would […]
(2018-11-08). Government declares child refugees will not remain in Australia. wsws.org The government's promise to evacuate detained children from Nauru is a ploy to placate the public outcry over their barbaric treatment.
(2018-11-08). American Detained by US Military Without Charge for Over a Year Finally Set Free. theantimedia.com 
A U.S. citizen illegally detained by the Trump administration for more than a year was finally set free thanks to the work of the American Civil Liberties Union. (CR) — I have been following the saga of the American citizen who was detained by the U.S. military in September 2017 while fleeing from violence in Syria. This …
(2018-11-07). New York Registration Deadline Prevents Tens of Thousands From Voting. aclu.org The 25-day cutoff is an unnecessary and outdated burden on New Yorkers' right to vote. | Imagine a national department store chain holding a "Back to School" sale in late July instead of in August. People who show up close to when school actually starts are told, "You're too late." | That's what voting in New York is like. Each election cycle, thousands of New Yorkers are prevented from casting a ballot because of the state's registration cutoff, which requires voters to register at least 25 days in advance of the election in order for their vote to count. | The 25-day registration cutoff imposes an unnecessary a…
(2018-11-07). Progressives Win on Medicaid Expansion, Public Education, and Voting Rights Through Ballot Initiatives. theintercept.com 
From state legislative races to the House of Representatives, progressive candidates made a dent in the 2018 election season, and will be relatively well-represented in federal and state-level governments next year. But it's not just elected office: Left-wing activists also made their voices heard through ballot initiatives across the country. On Tuesday night, progressives walked away with some wins and some losses on that front. | They made gains for Medicaid expansion, public education, and voting rights. But they lost other battles, like on criminal justice reform, nurse-to-patient ratios, and universal home…
(2018-11-07). Headlines for November 7, 2018. democracynow.org Democrats Take the House of Representatives as GOP Gains in Senate, Democrat Stacey Abrams Refuses to Concede Georgia Governor's Race, Republican Ron DeSantis Defeats Andrew Gillum in Florida Governor's Race, Maryland GOP Gov. Larry Hogan Defeats Former NAACP Head Ben Jealous, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz Defeats Progressive Democratic Challenger Beto O'Rourke in Texas, Incumbent Senate Democrats Lose in North Dakota, Indiana and Missouri, Democrats Win Governor's Races in Maine and Midwestern States, Wave of Women Voters Brings Historic Firsts in Midterm Elections, Florida to Restore Voting Rights to 1.4 Million wit…
(2018-11-07). The 2018 Midterm Elections Were a Big Win for Criminal Justice Reform Ballot Initiatives. aclu.org Voters made it clear that they've had enough of President Trump's "tough on crime" rhetoric. | Wednesday morning I woke up in a better America when it comes to criminal justice reform. | On Election Day, voters in states across the country said enough is enough to America's horrific criminal justice system. They voted for reforms that will change people's lives for the better while expanding our civil liberties and civil rights. They also voted for reform-minded law enforcement officials and against the "law and order" types who have led to America's epidemic of mass incarceration. In other words, they rejected…
(2018-11-07). As Julian Assange Faces Crisis, the Media Obsesses Over His Cat. mintpressnews.com 
While the media focused on Julian Assange's cat rather than his continuing arbitrary detention, evidence shows that Britain worked hard to force his extradition to Sweden where Assange feared he could then be turned over to the U.S., as Stefania Maurizi explains.
(2018-11-07). In Historic Move, Florida Reverses Ban on Voting Rights for People With Past Felony Convictions. mintpressnews.com 
"Florida voters made a resoundingly clear statement that the state's shameful lifetime ban on voting is not consistent with the values of democracy."
(2018-11-07). Media Silent as Another Journalist is Tortured to Death by Saudi Arabia. mintpressnews.com 
A Saudi journalist was arrested and tortured to death after authorities claimed he administered a Twitter account which disclosed human rights violations committed by Saudi authorities and the royal family.
(2018-11-07). To End the Trump Nightmare, We Need a Radical Political Agenda. truthout.org The electoral victories that broke the Republican hold on the House of Representatives last night have pierced the perceptions of Trumpism as all-powerful and impenetrable. These victories include not only those in the House itself, but also all kinds of progressive referenda, wins for left candidates in state races, and most dramatically, the restoration of voting rights for (most of) the formerly incarcerated in Florida. There were significant victories in the Midwest, where Trump secured his electoral outcome in 2016. The demise of two troglodyte governors — Scott Walker in Wisconsin and Bruce Rauner in…
(2018-11-07). Petition: Tell the new Congress to block Trump's white nationalist agenda. splcenter.org Last night, Americans shifted the balance of power in the House of Representatives, creating a Democratic majority. The new Congress now holds the responsibility to take a stand for civil and human rights.
(2018-11-07). Principals told to stop teachers walking off for refugees. greenleft.org.au 
The Department of Education and Training Victoria today advised school principals to oppose leave for teachers who wish to participate in the Walk Off for Refugees on November 20. | Teachers For Refugees (TFR) has called on teachers and education support staff to walk off the job on Universal Children's Day and demand that the federal government remove all children and adults from offshore camps and resettle them in the community. | TFR's Lucy Honan said in response to the education department's decision: "In the face of the human rights catastrophe that has lasted more than five years, this is an unacceptable re…
(2018-11-07). NAACP STATEMENT ON JEFF SESSIONS RESIGNATION. naacp.org "U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' resignation might be a welcomed reprieve from his jurisdiction over the justice department. His odious record has done little to impact the civil liberties of African Americans, confirming our deepest concerns when it comes to criminal justice and equal rights. However, given the administration's track record on appointing problematic people […]
(2018-11-07). "Love Prevails": Floridians Celebrate Massive Restoration of Voting Rights to People with Felonies. democracynow.org 
At least 1.4 million people have regained the right to vote in Florida, following the passage of Amendment 4, a statewide initiative to re-enfranchise people with felony convictions who have completed their sentences, excluding people convicted of murder or sex offenses. The amendment passed overwhelmingly, with 64.5 percent of the vote. It needed 60 percent to pass. The win will permanently alter politics in a state that elected Republican Ron DeSantis as Florida governor by just over 55,000 votes, according to the latest numbers. DeSantis defeated Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum, who was vying…
(2018-11-07). Crown Prince Launches Saudi Arabia's First Nuclear Reactor Same Day Sanctions Hit Iran. theantimedia.com 
(ZHE) — In but the latest after an insane month of news featuring the kingdom since the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the AP reports Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman laid the ceremonial foundation stone for Saudi Arabia's first nuclear research reactor on Monday. The site is the first of 16 planned reactor sites to be …
(2018-11-07). Venezuela Looks to Dodge Sanctions & Repatriate Gold from Bank of England. venezuelanalysis.com The reported measure will bring US $550m worth of national reserves back to Caracas only days after Washington announced new gold-targeting sanctions.
(2018-11-07). Sanctions: EU Says SWIFT Decision On Iran Banks Regrettable. iranian.com Shortly after Trump reimposed nuclear sanctions on Tehran on November 5, the international financial messaging system SWIFT announced the suspension of several Iranian banks from its service. "In keeping with our mission of supporting the resilience and integrity of the global financial system as a global and neutral service provider, SWIFT is suspending certain Iranian […]
(2018-11-07). Erdogan Says US Sanctions On Iran Are Against International Law. iranian.com Turkish president says US sanctions on Iran, which came into effect Monday, aim to 'upset the global balance' Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has spoken out against US sanctions on Iran, saying the measures violate international law and Ankara will not abide by them. Washington's latest round of renewed sanctions on Tehran came […]
(2018-11-07). US Backs Down: Exempts Iranian Chabahar Port From Restored Sanctions. iranian.com Secretary of State Mike Pompeo agreed to grant an exemption to allow the development Iran's Chabahar Port from the new Iran sanctions imposed by the United States so it can be used by Afghanistan, a State Department spokesperson told Sputnik on Tuesday. "After extensive consideration, the Secretary has provided for an exception from the imposition of certain sanctions […]
(2018-11-07). Hatewatch Headlines 11/7/2018. splcenter.org Time to declare war on domestic terrorism; CBP accused of voter intimidation; Oregon voters stand behind immigrant sanctuary law; and more.
(2018-11-06). Civil Rights Groups Warn of DOJ Efforts to Intimidate Voters. mintpressnews.com "Attorney General Jeff Sessions does not have his eyes set on voter suppression but is instead exploiting this moment to push a false narrative about voter fraud."
(2018-11-06). The West is Failing Julian Assange. consortiumnews.com While the media focused on Julian Assange's cat rather than his continuing arbitrary detention, evidence shows that Britain worked hard to force his extradition to Sweden where Assange feared he could then be turned over to the U.S., as Stefania… Read more →
(2018-11-06). ICE Detention Center Says It's Not Responsible for Staff's Sexual Abuse of Detainees. aclu.org Officials at the detention facility are trying to avoid responsibility by arguing that the detainee "consented" to sexual abuse. | All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the federal government impose criminal liability on correctional facility staff who have sexual contact with people in their custody. These laws recognize that any sexual activity between detainees and detention facility staff, with or without the use of force, is unlawful because of the inherent power imbalance when people are in custody. Yet, one immigration detention center is trying to avoid responsibility for sexual violence within its…
(2018-11-06). "Smoking Gun" Evidence Shows Trump Admin's Top Anti-Immigrant Officials Trying to Rig the Census. democracynow.org 
We look at a federal trial underway in New York City that could overturn the Trump administration's plans to put a citizenship question on the 2020 census. Voting rights activists fear the question will deter immigrants from participating in the census, leading to a vast undercount in states with large immigrant communities. This could impact everything from the redrawing of congressional maps to the allocation of federal funding. The citizenship question was announced in March by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who touted it as a way to enforce the Voting Rights Act and protect minorities against voter disc…
(2018-11-06). NAACP Unites in Demand to Make Panama City Florida Polling Sites Accessible to Hurricane Victims. naacp.org Groups Want Equal Access to the Polls for Communities Displaced by Hurricane Michael BALTIMORE—(November 6, 2018) Florida officials have rejected a formal request from voting rights advocates to make polling locations more accessible to African-American residents of Panama City, Florida, who were hard hit by Hurricane Michael. Late last week, a coalition of voting rights […] | The post
(2018-11-06). Florida's Amendment 4 Would Restore Voting Rights to 1.4 Million People with Nonviolent Felonies. democracynow.org 
Florida voters are preparing to vote on Amendment 4, a measure that would restore voting rights to 1.4 million people with nonviolent felonies who have fully completed their sentences. One in five African Americans in Florida and 10 percent of the state's adult population are ineligible to vote because of a criminal record. Across the United States, more than 6.1 million people with felony convictions are not eligible to vote. Florida is one of just four states that bar them from voting for life. In October, Amy Goodman traveled to Melbourne, Florida, and spoke with Desmond Meade, the president of the Florida Rig…
(2018-11-06). John Bolton: U.S. Is Preparing More Sanctions Against Iran. iranian.com The United States government is preparing more sanctions against Iran, national security adviser John Bolton told Fox Business News, commenting on what the current sanctions have already helped Washington accomplish, and what the ultimate goal is. "The aim is to drive Iranian oil exports to zero. We're working with other countries to get alternative supplies […]
(2018-11-06). Iran Releases Video Vowing Global Partners Will Help It Beat Sanctions. iranian.com Less than 24 hours after crippling U.S. sanctions went into effect targeting primarily Iran's energy sector, and hours after SWIFT suspended Iranian banks from accessing the global financial messaging system, succumbing to pressure from the Trump White House, Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has published the Islamic Republic's official statement in response. In a 3-minute video posted […]
(2018-11-05). SPLC urges Trump administration to preserve measures that protect immigrant children from detention. splcenter.org Jenny Lisette Flores came to America at 15, fleeing civil war in El Salvador to find protection with family members in the U.S.
(2018-11-05). The ACLU Mourns the Passing of Ramona Ripston. aclu.org For nearly four decades, Ripston led the ACLU of Southern California and turned it into a civil liberties and civil rights powerhouse. | Ramona Ripston, who led the ACLU of Southern California for nearly four decades, died on Saturday. She was 91. | Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, issued the following statement: | "On Saturday, we lost my friend Ramona Ripston, a civil liberties icon in Los Angeles and one of the country's most dynamic advocates for justice and equality., , "In her nearly four decades as leader of the ACLU's Southern California affiliate, Ramona's off…
(2018-11-05). 5000-plus stand up for transgender rights in Minneapolis. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN – Over 5000 people from all across Minnesota lined Lake Street, from South Minneapolis to Saint Paul, October 28, to show solidarity with transgender, gender nonconforming and intersex people under attack by the Trump administration. | The action comes in response to a Department of Health and Human Services memo leaked by the New York Times which reaffirmed the administration's aim to legally define gender as "a person's status as male or female based on immutable biological traits identifiable by or before birth." This definition, if adopted, not only erases any legal definition of "transgender,…
(2018-11-05). A Tax-Funded Child Welfare Agency in Philadelphia Wants to Turn Away Same-Sex Couples Like Us. aclu.org Faith-based child welfare agencies are challenging the city's nondiscrimination policies, which protect LGBTQ foster parents and the kids they serve. | Editor's Note: On Nov. 6, a federal appeals court will hear a challenge by Catholic Social Services to the city of Philadelphia's requirement that tax-funded child welfare organizations accept all qualified parents, including same-sex couples. Shannon Graves and Paige Davis are following the case closely for good reason: They are same-sex foster parents who often take care of LGBTQ kids. | When we learned that
(2018-11-05). In Trump's Hands, the Census Becomes a Weapon. aclu.org We use the census as a tool to build power in communities. The administration wants to use it against those communities. | Almost a decade ago, I ran the Minkwon Center for Community Action, a grassroots organization serving the Korean-American community in Queens. Getting immigrants to participate in the 2010 census was one of our top priorities. Why? Because I knew we could use the census to build power for our communities, just by standing up and being counted. And we did, but it wasn't easy. | First, we had to educate people about the census's importance. After all, it's not just a head count. The…
(2018-11-05). Maduro: Venezuela Sitting on 2nd Biggest Gold Reserve on Earth. venezuelanalysis.com President Nicolas Maduro described the U.S. sanctions on Venezuela as "crazy" and "criminal."
(2018-11-05). Headlines for November 5, 2018. democracynow.org U.S. Reinstates Harsh Sanctions on Iran After Nuclear Deal Withdrawal, Florida: Self-Proclaimed Misogynist Kills 2, Injures 5 in Tallahassee, Georgia Secretary of State and GOP Candidate Launches Probe into Dem. Party, Obama Campaigns for Vulnerable Senate Democrats Ahead of Midterms, Kansas Republican Kris Kobach Took Donations from White Nationalists, Trump Praises "Beautiful" Razor Wire as Soldiers Deploy to Border, NBC Airs Racist Anti-Immigrant Trump Campaign Commercial, Nigerian Military Tweets Trump Video to Justify Shooting Protesters, U.N.: A Yemeni Child Dies Every 10 Min. from War-Caused Disease, Hunge…
(2018-11-05). Gasoline Shortages Hit Western Venezuela. venezuelanalysis.com Whilst the government hinted at import problems due to US sanctions, others have cited additional factors, including cross-border smuggling, poor maintenance and increased demand due to the upcoming price hike.