2018-11-09: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media!

The "Blue Wave" Was Also a "Muslim Wave"
Shared by Cherise | truthout.org | 2018-11-09
With the Muslim Ban, the promotion of torturer Gina Haspel to CIA director, and increases in hate crimes, it's been a rough year for us Muslims in the United States. | So hearing the words "Salam Alaikum" as Ilhan Omar took the national stage on Election Night to accept her win as Representative of Minnesota's 5th District made it feel like I could finally breathe a little bit easier. | The first Somali-American elected to Congress, Omar joined Rashida Tlaib, a daughter of Palestinian refugees, as the first Muslim women to be elected to US Congress. | The election of these women to Congress is a direct repudiatio…
truthout.org/articles/the-blue-wave-was-also-a-muslim-wave/

Anakbayan Santa Cruz condemns the state supported extrajudicial killings of Human Rights Rights defenders in the Philippines
Anakbayan Santa Cruz | indybay.org | 2018-11-09
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.
indybay.org/newsitems/2018/11/07/18818887.php

Canada's Trudeau Condemns BDS in Apology to Jewish WWII Refugees
Middle East Eye | globalresearch.ca | 2018-11-09
Justin Trudeau used an apology for Canada's historical rejection of Jewish refugees during World War II to condemn the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement for Palestinian human rights. | The Canadian prime minister apologised in the House of Commons on … | The post Canada's Trudeau Condemns BDS in Apology to Jewish WWII Refugees appeared first on Global Research.
globalresearch.ca/canadas-trudeau-condemns-bds-in-apology-to-jewish-wwii-refugees/5659377

Government proposes making journalism a crime
pip.hinman | greenleft.org.au | 2018-11-09
Proposed amendments to the Criminal Code Act of 1995 will make it impossible for media organisations to accurately report on what governments do behind closed doors. | The pretence for this legislative proposal, which was tabled in federal parliament at the end of last year, is supposedly to respond to the growing threat of foreign states influencing Australia's political landscape. | Apparently inspired by the scandal involving Labor politician Sam Dastyari and his alleged links to the Chinese government, the Foreign Influence and Transparency Scheme Bill is in reality an attack on democratic rights and the abil…
greenleft.org.au/content/government-proposes-making-journalism-crime

Colombian Social Leaders Start 'We're Like You' Campaign
teleSUR | telesurenglish.net | 2018-11-09
The campaign aims to counter stigmatization and persecution against activists, leaders, and rights defenders in the country.
www.telesurenglish.net/news/Colombian-So…

Pundit & women's rights advocate lock horns on RT over 'true face of feminism' (VIDEO)
RT | rt.com | 2018-11-09
A claim that white women betrayed true feminist values by voting for a GOP candidate in the midterms set off a debate on race and gender. The issue spiralled into a heated argument between conservative and liberal pundits on RT. | …
rt.com/usa/443531-feminism-gop-midterms-debate/

Trump's War on Trans Rights: A Q&A With Chase Strangio
Naomi Gordon-Loebl | thenation.com | 2018-11-09
Trump's War on Trans Rights: A Q&A With Chase Strangio…
thenation.com/article/chase-strangio-interview-trans-rights/

Trump challenged on trans and gender diverse discrimination
stuart_m | greenleft.org.au | 2018-11-09
Trans and gender diverse people in the US are preparing to fight for their lives — literally — against a push by the Republican religious right to quash life-saving laws protecting them from discrimination. | A leaked memo from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revealed it is pushing for the federal civil rights law that bans gender discrimination in education programs receiving government assistance to redefine sex as binary. If the push is successful, the law wound dictate that the gender assigned at birth cannot be changed. | If successful, this would effectively exclude about 2 mil…
greenleft.org.au/content/trump-challenged-trans-and-gender-diverse-discrimination

Civil rights under threat in name of national security
pip.hinman | greenleft.org.au | 2018-11-09
One of the usual threats trotted out by governments proposing what would otherwise be considered radical attacks on civil liberties is national security. | The Australian newspaper reported on June 8 that Attorney-General Christian Porter was demanding urgent passage of two separate espionage and foreign interference bills following "intelligence advice of an accelerated escalation in hostile foreign activity over the past 12 months". | The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security had just published a 400-page report containing 60 recommendations, giving the green light to the first bill, the Es…
greenleft.org.au/content/civil-rights-under-threat-name-national-security

Factional conflict in Sri Lankan elite underscores dangers facing working class
wsws | wsws.org | 2018-11-09
All sections of the ruling class are preparing a major onslaught against the social and democratic rights of the working people and the poor.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2018/11/09/sril…

The Hypocrisy of Selective Sanctions
Brian Cloughley | counterpunch.org | 2018-11-09
George W Bush used the phrase 'Axis of Evil' in his State of the Union address in January 2002, referring to North Korea, Iran and Iraq, accusing the last of having "plotted to develop anthrax and nerve gas and nuclear weapons for over a decade." There were already comprehensive UN sanctions on Iraq, but as pointed out by Global…
counterpunch.org/2018/11/09/the-hypocrisy-of-selective-sanctions/

Citizens' Petition to Lift All Sanctions Against Venezuela Is Rejected by Canadian Parliament
Nino Pagliccia | globalresearch.ca | 2018-11-09
Last November 27 of 2017 Alan Freeman who is a Canadian economist co-director of the Geopolitical Economy Research Group [1] based at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba, initiated an E-Petition to the Government of Canada. The petition was … | The post Citizens' Petition to Lift All Sanctions Against Venezuela Is Rejected by Canadian Parliament appeared first on Global Research.
globalresearch.ca/citizens-petition-lift-sanctions-venezuela-rejected-canadian-parliament/5659338

The Malevolent Hypocrisy of Selective Sanctions
Brian Cloughley | counterpunch.org | 2018-11-09
George W Bush used the phrase 'Axis of Evil' in his State of the Union address in January 2002, referring to North Korea, Iran and Iraq, accusing the last of having "plotted to develop anthrax and nerve gas and nuclear weapons for over a decade." There were already comprehensive UN sanctions on Iraq, but as…
counterpunch.org/2018/11/09/the-malevolent-hypocrisy-of-selective-sanctions/

Iran leaders will have to fall in line if 'they want their people to eat,' Pompeo says
RT | rt.com | 2018-11-09
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told a BBC journalist that Iranian "leadership has to make a decision that they want their people to eat," dropping all pretense of caring about Iranians as he touted the latest harsh sanctions. | …
rt.com/usa/443497-pompeo-starving-iran-sanctions/

Oregon sanctuary law survives hate groups' election campaign
BMSS | splcenter.org | 2018-11-08
Oregon retains its unique sanctuary law after voters on Tuesday emphatically rejected a statewide measure to repeal it. The law was targeted for elimination in a campaign financed and supported by anti-immigrant hate groups.
splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/11/08/oregon-sanctuary-law-survives-hate-groups-election-campaign

PCHR Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (01 — 07 November 2018)
PCHR | imemc.org | 2018-11-08
Israeli forces continued with systematic crimes, in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), for the week of 01 — 07 November, 2018. Israeli forces continued to use excessive force against unarmed civilians and peaceful protestors in the Gaza Strip. A civilian succumbed to wounds he sustained during his participation in the …

PCHR Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (01 – 07 November 2018)

American Detained by US Military Without Charge for Over a Year Finally Set Free
Derrick Broze | theantimedia.com | 2018-11-08
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 …

American Detained by US Military Without Charge for Over a Year Finally Set Free

More Iranians Caught Traveling With Fake Israeli Passports
RFE | iranian.com | 2018-11-08
Bulgarian border guards at the Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint have detained three Iranian men who attempted to enter the country from Turkey using fake Israeli passports, the local daily Sofia Globe reported November 2.
iranian.com/2018/11/08/iranians-traveling-with-fake-israeli-passports/

Watch the Leaked Documentary the Israel Lobby Didn't Want You to See
Whitney Webb | theantimedia.com | 2018-11-08
(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 …

Watch the Leaked Documentary the Israel Lobby Didn't Want You to See

Mass protests follow Trump's firing of Sessions; demand hands off Mueller!
Mark Gruenberg | peoplesworld.org | 2018-11-08
WASHINGTON–In a situation rife with irony — given Jeff Sessions's past record on voting rights, voter suppression and against workers' rights — citizen groups called mass protests for 5 p.m. local time, coast to coast, on Nov. 8 against President Donald Trump's arbitrary firing of Sessions, his Attorney General. They said it's a Trump attempt …
peoplesworld.org/article/mass-protests-follow-trumps-televised-breakdown-demand-hands-off-mueller/

As Julian Assange's Health Declines, the Media Obsesses About His Cat
Consortium News | theantimedia.com | 2018-11-08
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 …

As Julian Assange's Health Declines, the Media Obsesses About His Cat

France: US Acting As World's "Trade Policeman", Vows To Defy Iran Sanctions
Middle East Monitor | iranian.com | 2018-11-08
France has vowed to fulfill plans to defy the US' sanctions on Iran while increasing the international role of the euro in order to prevent Washington from acting as the world's "trade policeman". France's Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire, told the British newspaper Financial Times that Europe is planning the formation of a special […] | The post France: US Acting As World's "Trade Policeman", Vows To Defy Iran Sanctions appeared first on The Iranian…
iranian.com/2018/11/08/france-us-acting-as-worlds-trade-policeman-vows-to-defy-iran-sanctions/

State Department: US Will Soon Impose More Sanctions Against Russia
Jason Ditz | theantimedia.com | 2018-11-08
(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 …

State Department: US Will Soon Impose More Sanctions Against Russia

US Warns All Ports To Block Iranian Ships
AntiWar | iranian.com | 2018-11-08
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 […] | The post US Warns All Ports To Block Iranian Ships appeared first on The Iranian.
iranian.com/2018/11/08/us-warns-all-ports-to-block-iranian-ships/

France Vows to Protect Iran Against US Acting as World's "Trade Policeman"
Middle East Monitor | theantimedia.com | 2018-11-08
(MEMO) — France has vowed to fulfill plans to defy the US' sanctions on Iran while increasing the international role of the euro in order to prevent Washington from acting as the world's "trade policeman". France's Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire, told the British newspaper Financial Times that Europe is planning the formation of a special …

France Vows to Protect Iran Against US Acting as World’s “Trade Policeman”

The Trojan Horse In Iran Sanctions And Oil Markets
Cyril Widdershoven | iranian.com | 2018-11-08
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. […] | The post The Trojan Horse In Iran Sanctions And Oil Markets appeared first on The Iranian.
iranian.com/2018/11/08/iran-sanctions-and-oil-markets/

The 2018 Midterm Elections Were a Big Win for Criminal Justice Reform Ballot Initiatives
aclu | aclu.org | 2018-11-07
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…
aclu.org/blog/smart-justice/2018-midterm-elections-were-big-win-criminal-justice-reform-ballot-initiatives

New York Registration Deadline Prevents Tens of Thousands From Voting
aclu | aclu.org | 2018-11-07
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…
aclu.org/blog/voting-rights/fighting-voter-suppression/new-york-registration-deadline-prevents-tens-thousands

Progressives Win on Medicaid Expansion, Public Education, and Voting Rights Through Ballot Initiatives
Rachel M. Cohen | theintercept.com | 2018-11-07
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…
theintercept.com/2018/11/07/ballot-measures-2018-midterms/

Petition: Tell the new Congress to block Trump's white nationalist agenda
splcenter | splcenter.org | 2018-11-07
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.
splcenter.org/news/2018/11/07/petition-tell-new-congress-block-trump%25E2%2580%2599s-white-nationalist-agenda

Media Silent as Another Journalist is Tortured to Death by Saudi Arabia
SouthFront | mintpressnews.com | 2018-11-07
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. | The post Media Silent as Another Journalist is Tortured to Death by Saudi Arabia appeared first on MintPress News.
mintpressnews.com/media-silent-another-journalist-tortured-death-saudi-arabia/251588/

Hatewatch Headlines 11/7/2018
Hatewatch Staff | splcenter.org | 2018-11-07
Time to declare war on domestic terrorism; CBP accused of voter intimidation; Oregon voters stand behind immigrant sanctuary law; and…
splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/11/07/hatewatch-headlines-1172018

"Love Prevails": Floridians Celebrate Massive Restoration of Voting Rights to People with Felonies
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2018-11-07
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…
www.democracynow.org/2018/11/7/love_prev…

NAACP STATEMENT ON JEFF SESSIONS RESIGNATION
Regan Farley | naacp.org | 2018-11-07
"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 […] | The post NAACP STATEMENT ON JEFF SESSIONS RESIGNATION appeared first on NAACP.
naacp.org/latest/naacp-statement-jeff-sessions-resignation/

As Julian Assange Faces Crisis, the Media Obsesses Over His Cat
Stefania Maurizi | mintpressnews.com | 2018-11-07
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. | The post As Julian Assange Faces Crisis, the Media Obsesses Over His Cat appeared first on MintPress News.
mintpressnews.com/as-julian-assange-faces-crisis-the-media-obsesses-over-his-cat/251596/

Venezuela Looks to Dodge Sanctions & Repatriate Gold from Bank of England
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2018-11-07
The reported measure will bring US $550m worth of national reserves back to Caracas only days after Washington announced new gold-targeting sanctions.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14139

ICE Detention Center Says It's Not Responsible for Staff's Sexual Abuse of Detainees
aclu | aclu.org | 2018-11-06
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…
aclu.org/blog/immigrants-rights/immigrants-rights-and-detention/ice-detention-center-says-its-not-responsible

NAACP Unites in Demand to Make Panama City Florida Polling Sites Accessible to Hurricane Victims
Regan Farley | naacp.org | 2018-11-06
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 NAACP Unites in Demand to Make Panama City Florida Polling Sites Accessible to Hurricane Victi…
naacp.org/latest/naacp-unites-demand-make-panama-city-florida-polling-sites-accessible-hurricane-victims/

"Smoking Gun" Evidence Shows Trump Admin's Top Anti-Immigrant Officials Trying to Rig the Census
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2018-11-06
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…
www.democracynow.org/2018/11/6/smoking_g…

Florida's Amendment 4 Would Restore Voting Rights to 1.4 Million People with Nonviolent Felonies
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2018-11-06
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…
www.democracynow.org/2018/11/6/floridas_…

The West is Failing Julian Assange
Consortiumnews | consortiumnews.com | 2018-11-06
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 ?…
consortiumnews.com/2018/11/06/the-west-is-failing-julian-assange/

SPLC lawsuit: Family detained, searched in Mississippi because they 'looked' Latino
splcenter | splcenter.org | 2018-11-05
The Martinez family was traveling along a Mississippi highway — on their way to a vacation — when a sheriff's deputy stopped them for no apparent reason.
splcenter.org/news/2018/11/05/splc-lawsuit-family-detained-searched-mississippi-because-they-%25E2%2580%2598looked%25E2%2580%2599-latino

The ACLU Mourns the Passing of Ramona Ripston
aclu | aclu.org | 2018-11-05
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…
aclu.org/blog/aclu-mourns-passing-ramona-ripston

In Trump's Hands, the Census Becomes a Weapon
aclu | aclu.org | 2018-11-05
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…
aclu.org/blog/voting-rights/fighting-voter-suppression/trumps-hands-census-becomes-weapon

5000-plus stand up for transgender rights in Minneapolis
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2018-11-05
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,…
fightbacknews.org/2018/11/5/5000-plus-stand-transgender-rights-minneapolis

SPLC urges Trump administration to preserve measures that protect immigrant children from detention
splcenter | splcenter.org | 2018-11-05
Jenny Lisette Flores came to America at 15, fleeing civil war in El Salvador to find protection with family members in the U.S.
splcenter.org/news/2018/11/05/splc-urges-trump-administration-preserve-measures-protect-immigrant-children-detention

Gasoline Shortages Hit Western Venezuela
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2018-11-05
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.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14135

Maduro: Venezuela Sitting on 2nd Biggest Gold Reserve on Earth
TeleSur English | venezuelanalysis.com | 2018-11-05
President Nicolas Maduro described the U.S. sanctions on Venezuela as "crazy" and "criminal."
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14133

Civil Rights Leaders Unite to Deliver Message to Voters Ahead of Midterm Elections
Vanessa Mbonu@naacpnet | naacp.org | 2018-11-04
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Vanessa Mbonu/ vmbonu@naacpnet.org Message Underscores the Importance of Elections Taking Place on November 6 BALTIMORE ≠(November 4, 2018)–With the midterm elections on Tuesday, NAACP has partnered with other prominent civil rights groups to release a special public service announcement (PSA) aimed at mobilizing voters in the last days of […] | The post Civil Rights Leaders Unite to Deliver Message to Voters Ahead of Midterm Elections appeared firs…
naacp.org/latest/civil-rights-leaders-unite-deliver-message-voters-ahead-midterm-elections/

Despite Saudi Crisis, US Increases Threats Against Iran
Consortiumnews | consortiumnews.com | 2018-11-04
Though the U.S.-Saudi alliance may have been weakened because of the Khashoggi murder, both countries are still targeting Iran as new US sanctions are announced on Sunday, writes Marjorie Cohn of Truthout. By Marjorie Cohn Truthout The alleged torture, murder… Read more ?…
consortiumnews.com/2018/11/04/despite-saudi-crisis-us-increases-threats-against-iran/

Last Process: 50 Postees: 2018-11-09 16:41 GMT (11:41 EST)

2018-11-08: News Headlines

wsws (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.

Consortium News (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 …

Fred_F (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…

Shared by Merula Furtado (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…

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (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…

Whitney Webb (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 …

teleSUR (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.

Anakbayan Santa Cruz (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.

Jason Ditz (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 …

Cyril Widdershoven (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. […]

teleSUR (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.

RT (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.

Andrew Korybko (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 …

AntiWar (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 […]

wsws (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.

Derrick Broze (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 …

aclu (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…

Rachel M. Cohen (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…

Democracy Now! (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…

aclu (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…

Stefania Maurizi (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.

Jessica Corbett (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."

SouthFront (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.

Shared by Merula Furtado (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…

splcenter (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.

Fred_F (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…

Regan Farley (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 […]

Democracy Now! (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…

Tyler Durden (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 …

Paul Dobson (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.

Zero Hedge (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 […]

Middle East Eye (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 […]

Sputnik News (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 […]

Hatewatch Staff (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.

Jake Johnson (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."

Consortiumnews (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 →

aclu (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…

Democracy Now! (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…

Regan Farley (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

Democracy Now! (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…

Oil Price (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 […]

Zero Hedge (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 […]

splcenter (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.

aclu (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…

Fight Back (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,…

aclu (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

aclu (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…

TeleSur English (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."

Democracy Now! (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…

Paul Dobson (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.

Last Process: 50 Citations: 2018-11-08 16:16 GMT (11:17 EST)