Two major policy changes affecting undocumented immigrants and the struggle for immigrant rights have recently been announced. First, in a clear bid for Latino votes as the November presidential election approaches, President Obama announced on June 15 that the Department of Homeland Security will stop deporting certain “low priority” undocumented youth and will create a … Continue reading Obama ‘gives relief’ to immigrants; Court upholds AZ ‘papers’ law
Tag: Obama
NY protest against ‘stop & frisk’
<!--[if !mso]><![endif]--> On Father’s Day, June 17, several thousand marched behind a banner demanding that the New York City police “End Stop and Frisk” and “End Racial Profiling.” Said NAACP President Ben Jealous, a central march organizer: “Stop and frisk is the most massive local racial profiling program in the country.” The ethnically diverse rally … Continue reading NY protest against ‘stop & frisk’
Evidence mounts of scam to buy votes in Mexico
<!--[if !mso]><![endif]--> MEXICO CITY—Utmost care had been exerted by the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) to prepare the stage for the “impeccable” electoral process that culminated on July 1. For months, day in and day out, the media drummed the message that there would be no excuse for not voting: this time, all precautions had been … Continue reading Evidence mounts of scam to buy votes in Mexico
On the Wisconsin Election Results
<!--[if !mso]><![endif]--> The Walker victory disappoints but it does not surprise me. One thing’s for sure, the Democrats are incapable of defeating the right. Does not the last 30 years demonstrate that? Every vote for a Democrat has meant the success of the Republican agenda, whether or not by rotten deals cut with Republicans or … Continue reading On the Wisconsin Election Results
Houla Massacre Heightens Danger of Intervention & Derailing of the Syrian Revolution
On May 25, 108Syrian civilians were murdered in the Houla area of towns and villages, including 34 women and 49 children. Some were killed by artillery shells, some at close hand by guns or knives.Not surprisingly, the regime and the opposition blamed each other. It’s most likely that responsibility for the carnage lies with President … Continue reading Houla Massacre Heightens Danger of Intervention & Derailing of the Syrian Revolution
May 20: March to protest NATO summit in Chicago!
The NATO war-makers, fresh from their missile barrage on Libya, are coming to Chicago this month for a summit meeting. We can expect that U.S. politicians and the compliant media will spare no effort to glad-hand the NATO representatives on their arrival. But protesters, who are weary of the endless war in Afghanistan and dazed … Continue reading May 20: March to protest NATO summit in Chicago!
Egypt: Growing protests against military rule
On Wednesday, May 2, paid thugs hired by Egypt’s military rulers murdered at least 20 participants in a sit-in in front of the Ministry of Defense (MOD). While the initial core of the sit-in, begun the Friday before, consisted of supporters of a Salafi (conservative Islamist) presidential candidate, one of several disqualified by the Supreme … Continue reading Egypt: Growing protests against military rule
Another look at the ILWU Longview strike
Real victories in today’s labor movement are few and far between. Indeed, there are none over the past 40 years or so, especially in the U.S., that were powerful enough to stop the crisis-ridden system of exploitation and oppression in its tracks and open the door for a labor offensive capable of inspiring millions to … Continue reading Another look at the ILWU Longview strike
Big May Day Turnout in New York City
NEW YORK—May 1 was a day of celebration, rage, and solidarity. Taking to the streets for International Worker’s Day were some 10,000 to 20,000 mostly working-class New Yorkers. Dozens of May Day actions culminated in a big rally and march from Union Square in lower Manhattan. The march went south on Broadway to Wall Street, … Continue reading Big May Day Turnout in New York City
May Day in Arizona
TUCSON, Ariz.—On May Day (International Workers’ Day), the march and rally for immigrants’ and other workers’ rights was smaller than in previous years, only about 500. In contrast, in 2006, nearly 20,000 marched in Tucson on April 10, and about the same number two years ago, to protest Arizona’s racial profiling law, SB 1070, which … Continue reading May Day in Arizona
Libya’s Shadow
Reports by independent Arab human rights organizations and the UN Human Rights Council (published March 2) document the human rights violations in Libya since February 2011. They show us that it was indeed the case that the Qaddafi regime conducted crimes against humanity and, when the war began, war crimes.But what the UN report also … Continue reading Libya’s Shadow
UNAC conference challenges U.S./NATO war policies
<!--[if !mso]> <![endif]-->On April 1 The New York Times reported that the U.S. and the Gulf states, meeting as the “Friends of Syria” in Istanbul, had moved dramatically closer to direct military intervention against the Assad regime. The pro-U.S. Arab nations pledged $100 million to pay the fighters of the Free Syrian Army, and the … Continue reading UNAC conference challenges U.S./NATO war policies
We’ll demand our right to protest within sight of the NATO Summit
Below are introductory remarks to the March 23-25 UNAC conference by UNAC co-cordinator Marilyn Levin.When I started preparing for this talk, I thought back to July 2010, when UNAC began, and where we are today. It is astounding how much has changed over the past year and a half, although many of the challenges we face … Continue reading We’ll demand our right to protest within sight of the NATO Summit
Protests, hunger strikes in Palestine and Bahrain
<!--[if !mso]> <![endif]--> Every year on March 30, Palestinians and supporters rally to commemorate Land Day, the anniversary of the 1976 rallies inside the 1948 borders of Palestine in which the Zionist authorities gunned down six protesters fighting to save their land from ethnic cleansing. This year the demonstrations were coupled with a “Global March … Continue reading Protests, hunger strikes in Palestine and Bahrain
Justice for Trayvon Martin!
<!--[if !mso]> <![endif]--> Fight back against racist lynchings! Outrage at the murder of Trayvon Martin has sparked a wave of protests in recent days. Demonstrations numbering in the tens of thousands have been held in New York; 8000 marched in Philadelphia, 3000 in Seattle—and more in Chicago, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles. Demonstrations as large as 25,000 have … Continue reading Justice for Trayvon Martin!
“Kony 2012” Provides Cover for US Imperialism in Africa
<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--> Chances are that you have seen the film, “Kony 2012.” The viral video has attracted an unprecedented amount of attention in only a few days. The subject of the film, The Lord’s Resistance Army, is a central African guerrilla movement with a fanatic religious character and a personality … Continue reading “Kony 2012” Provides Cover for US Imperialism in Africa
Momentum builds for May 19 protest against NATO /G8
On March 23-25, hundreds of antiwar and international solidarity activists, students, and Occupiers are coming together in Stamford, Conn., for the United National Antiwar Coalition conference. A major task of the UNAC conference will be to build national support for the May 19 protest against the NATO/G8 summit convening in Chicago. Leaders of every social struggle … Continue reading Momentum builds for May 19 protest against NATO /G8
U.S., Israel hurl war threats against Iran
The drums of war in Washington are beating yet again. U.S. government officials, along with corporate media pundits, are calling for military action against Iran. Using similar logic that was used to justify the invasion of Iraq (that Saddam Hussein had “weapons of mass destruction,” which turned out to be a lie), the United States … Continue reading U.S., Israel hurl war threats against Iran
Modern day witch hunts sanctioned by law
The indefinite detention provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) managed to avoid mass public outcry as most Americans diverted their attention to end-of-year festivities. On Dec. 31, President Obama made a name for himself as the president who codified into law measures that permit indefinite detention without due process and trial for U.S. … Continue reading Modern day witch hunts sanctioned by law
ICE expands immigrant deportation program despite growing outcry
On Dec. 12, John Morton, the director of Immigration Control and Enforcement (ICE), which operates under the auspices of the Department of Homeland Security, announced that the long-controversial 287(g) program is ending.The designation 287(g) refers to a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act that authorizes ICE to enter into agreements with local law enforcement … Continue reading ICE expands immigrant deportation program despite growing outcry
ILWU Local 21 Victory!
Special Note: As we go to press, the EGT conglomerate has formally recognized ILWU Local 21 as the bargaining representative for all workers at its Longview, Wash., terminal and on all vessels that load grain from that facility. Contract negotiations are underway and expected to be concluded on union-favorable terms in the next few days. Until … Continue reading ILWU Local 21 Victory!
Egyptians mark anniversary of uprising with new protests
In early February, a number of protesters were killed and over 1500 injured, as Egyptian police attacked demonstrations that had been called to express the mounting public anger over the deaths of at least 74 people at a soccer match in Port Said.The mainstream media at first blamed the Feb. 1 soccer stadium fight on … Continue reading Egyptians mark anniversary of uprising with new protests
What sort of third party do we need?
The past year or so has seen a dramatic shift in the U.S. class struggle. The mass movement in Wisconsin against the union busting agenda of tea-party Republican Scott Walker, the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement that spread across the U.S., and the ILWU fight to protect their union rights at Longview, WA, and elsewhere … Continue reading What sort of third party do we need?
Northern Lights (news & views from Canada)
Ontario workers rally against concessions and lock-outSome 10,000 people, according to the Toronto Star, converged at London’s Victoria Park, two hours west of Toronto, on Jan. 21 to participate in the rally sponsored by the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) against the lockout of 500 workers.The London workers are members of the Canadian Auto Workers … Continue reading Northern Lights (news & views from Canada)
After ‘withdrawal’ from Iraq, U.S. seeks new battlegrounds
On Jan. 5, President Obama made a major speech about a coming shift in U.S. military strategy, a strategy that has been described as more “lean” and more “mean.” The fact that the speech coincided with the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq led mainstream commentators to characterize the change primarily as a move … Continue reading After ‘withdrawal’ from Iraq, U.S. seeks new battlegrounds