Daily Archives: April 22, 2020

2020-04-22: News Headlines

Medea Benjamin, Nicolas J.S. Davies (2020-04-21). Will America's Corruption End on a Ventilator or in a Mushroom Cloud? commondreams.org As we struggle to emerge from today's tragic pandemic, more and more Americans are understanding that healing our sick, corrupt political system is the vital key to a healthy and peaceful future. (Photo: Daily Express) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

Staff (2020-04-21). Death Trap Jail: Pepper-Sprayed, Otay Mesa Detainees Demand Release as COVID-19 Spreads Inside. democracynow.org We look at the mounting number of COVID-19 cases inside immigration jails across the country and one of the largest outbreaks at the Otay Mesa Detention Center near San Diego, run by private prison company CoreCivic. Prisoners were told to sign contracts, written only in English, in exchange for receiving face masks. When some refused to sign, guards pepper-sprayed them. This comes as activists say hundreds imprisoned in detention centers in California are on hunger strike. We get an update from Ruth Mendez, community activist and volunteer with Otay Mesa Detention Resistance.

Andrew Emett (2020-04-21). Committee to Protect Journalists denounces Hong Kong arrests of pro-democracy activists. nationofchange.org Since June 2019, more than 7,000 demonstrators have been arrested in Hong Kong for protesting against government suppression and a concerning lack of police accountability.

Staff (2020-04-21). Pepper-Sprayed, Otay Mesa Detainees Demand Release as COVID-19 Spreads Inside. truthout.org Image Credit: AFSC — San Diego | We look at the mounting number of COVID-19 cases inside immigration jails across the country and one of the largest outbreaks at the Otay Mesa Detention Center near San Diego, run by private prison company CoreCivic. Prisoners were told to sign contracts, written only in English, in exchange for receiving face masks. When some refused to sign, guards pepper-sprayed them. This comes as activists say hundreds imprisoned in detention centers in California are o…

RT (2020-04-20). Protesters clog Buffalo, demanding Cuomo lift the lockdown in New York, worst hit by Covid-19 (PHOTOS, VIDEOS). rt.com A motorcade of protesters has jammed up Niagara Square in Buffalo, New York. The demonstrators want lockdown measures lifted in their corner of the Empire State, but their defiance has angered some citizens. | Sticking to their cars to maintain social distance, a crowd of protesters blocked the streets of central Buffalo on Monday, calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo to reopen the economy of New York State. While New York City has seen more than 130,000 cases of coronavirus and 10,000 deaths, Erie County, where Buffalo is located, has seen 2,200 cases and 143 fatalities. | Despite the discrepancy, Cuomo's stay-at…

Fight Back (2020-04-20). Philippines: Police arrest activists performing COVID-19 relief work. fightbacknews.org On April 20, Marco L. Valbuena, the Chief Information Officer of the Communist Party of the Philippines denounced the arrest of former Anakpawis Representative Ariel Casilao and 12 other volunteers and residents by elements of the Philippine National Police in Norzagaray, Bulacan. | "The arrest shows the Duterte regime's perverse priorities even amid the pandemic and utter contempt for the plight of the Filipino people. Instead of focusing on efforts to ensure the welfare of the people suffering under the restrictive lockdown, it has intensified the fascist clampdown against activists even when they are conductin…

Alan Macleod (2020-04-17). ICE is Deporting COVID-19 Positive Detainees from Private Immigration Prisons. mintpressnews.com By continuing deportations of quarantined detainees during a pandemic, ICE is greatly increasing the risk of spreading the deadly virus to other countries officials and activists warn.

Max Blumenthal (2020-04-16). Coronavirus stimulus bill funds State Dept/USAID operations that once helped trigger polio outbreak in Syria. thegrayzone.com A look at recent USAID schemes from Pakistan to Syria shows US empire can be very hazardous to your health….

Medea Benjamin (2020-04-04). Saudi's Brave Women Pull Back the Curtain on Crown Prince MBS. zcomm.org The bogus trial against Loujain al-Hathloul should compel governments around the world to put more pressure on the Saudis and demand al-Hathloul's immediate and unconditional release…

Venezuela Analysis (2020-02-06). Embassy Protection Collective: "We Are Not the Ones Who Violated the Law" theantimedia.com In this exclusive interview, VA talks to the activists who defended the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington DC ahead of their trial.

Suzanne O'Keeffe (2019-07-24). MPP National Director Nick Brana arrested with XR. peoplesparty.org with Extinction Rebellion climate activists | MPP National Director Nick Brana arrested with Extinction Rebellion climate activists after supergluing themselves to Congress in mass civil disobedience: | Washington, D.C. — Movement for a People's Party National Director Nick Brana was arrested during a protest to block Congress and demand that they join the countries of the UK and Canada and declare a climate emergency. | Brana and 15 people affiliated with the climate action group Extinction Rebellion (XR) glued themselves to three underground tunnel entrances leading to the Capitol, blocking access…

yenisafak (2020-04-22). Turkey to celebrate 100th anniversary of national assembly. yenisafak.com Turkey on Thursday will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the foundation of its Grand National Assembly or parliament as well as National Sovereignty and Children's Day.Established on April 23, 1920, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey paved the way to the foundation of the Republic of Turkey.This makes its foundation one of the most important steps in the history of Turkey's liberation struggle.Following the Ottoman Empire's defeat in World War I, on May 19, 1919 Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Republic of Turkey, left for the Black Sea province of Samsun to start a national liberation campaign.Then, on…

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2020-04-21). Milan's Plan to Limit Cars After COVID-19 Lockdown Lauded as 'Excellent Example of #BuildBackBetter'. commondreams.org Climate activists from across the globe on Tuesday welcomed an ambitious new plan for Milan that will, according to the Guardian, transform 22 miles of street space currently reserved for cars "with a rapid, experimental citywide expansion of cycling and walking space to protect residents as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

2020-04-22: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media! (Copy the text of the postee below, then paste it on social media and the story images will also appear.)

Will America's Corruption End on a Ventilator or in a Mushroom Cloud?
Medea Benjamin, Nicolas J.S. Davies | commondreams.org | 2020-04-21
As we struggle to emerge from today's tragic pandemic, more and more Americans are understanding that healing our sick, corrupt political system is the vital key to a healthy and peaceful future. (Photo: Daily Express) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…
commondreams.org/views/2020/04/21/will-a…

Death Trap Jail: Pepper-Sprayed, Otay Mesa Detainees Demand Release as COVID-19 Spreads Inside
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-21
We look at the mounting number of COVID-19 cases inside immigration jails across the country and one of the largest outbreaks at the Otay Mesa Detention Center near San Diego, run by private prison company CoreCivic. Prisoners were told to sign contracts, written only in English, in exchange for receiving face masks. When some refused to sign, guards pepper-sprayed them. This comes as activists say hundreds imprisoned in detention centers in California are on hunger strike. We get an update from Ruth Mendez, community activist and volunteer with Otay Mesa Detention Resistance.
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/21/otay_mesa…

Pepper-Sprayed, Otay Mesa Detainees Demand Release as COVID-19 Spreads Inside
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-04-21
Image Credit: AFSC

Committee to Protect Journalists denounces Hong Kong arrests of pro-democracy activists
Andrew Emett | nationofchange.org | 2020-04-21
Since June 2019, more than 7,000 demonstrators have been arrested in Hong Kong for protesting against government suppression and a concerning lack of police accountability.
nationofchange.org/2020/04/21/committee-…

Philippines: Police arrest activists performing COVID-19 relief work
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2020-04-20
On April 20, Marco L. Valbuena, the Chief Information Officer of the Communist Party of the Philippines denounced the arrest of former Anakpawis Representative Ariel Casilao and 12 other volunteers and residents by elements of the Philippine National Police in Norzagaray, Bulacan. | "The arrest shows the Duterte regime's perverse priorities even amid the pandemic and utter contempt for the plight of the Filipino people. Instead of focusing on efforts to ensure the welfare of the people suffering under the restrictive lockdown, it has intensified the fascist clampdown against activists even when they are conductin…
www.fightbacknews.org/2020/4/20/philippi…

Protesters clog Buffalo, demanding Cuomo lift the lockdown in New York, worst hit by Covid-19 (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)
rt.com | 2020-04-20
A motorcade of protesters has jammed up Niagara Square in Buffalo, New York. The demonstrators want lockdown measures lifted in their corner of the Empire State, but their defiance has angered some citizens. | Sticking to their cars to maintain social distance, a crowd of protesters blocked the streets of central Buffalo on Monday, calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo to reopen the economy of New York State. While New York City has seen more than 130,000 cases of coronavirus and 10,000 deaths, Erie County, where Buffalo is located, has seen 2,200 cases and 143 fatalities. | Despite the discrepancy, Cuomo's stay-at…
rt.com/usa/486384-protest-cuomo-new-york…

ICE is Deporting COVID-19 Positive Detainees from Private Immigration Prisons
Alan Macleod | mintpressnews.com | 2020-04-17
By continuing deportations of quarantined detainees during a pandemic, ICE is greatly increasing the risk of spreading the deadly virus to other countries officials and activists warn.
mintpressnews.com/ice-deporting-covid-19…

Coronavirus stimulus bill funds State Dept/USAID operations that once helped trigger polio outbreak in Syria
Max Blumenthal | thegrayzone.com | 2020-04-16
A look at recent USAID schemes from Pakistan to Syria shows US empire can be very hazardous to your health….
thegrayzone.com/2020/04/16/coronavirus-s…

Saudi's Brave Women Pull Back the Curtain on Crown Prince MBS
Medea Benjamin | zcomm.org | 2020-04-04
The bogus trial against Loujain al-Hathloul should compel governments around the world to put more pressure on the Saudis and demand al-Hathloul's immediate and unconditional release…
zcomm.org/zmagazine/saudis-brave-women-p…

Turkey to celebrate 100th anniversary of national assembly
yenisafak.com | 2020-04-22
Turkey on Thursday will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the foundation of its Grand National Assembly or parliament as well as National Sovereignty and Children's Day.Established on April 23, 1920, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey paved the way to the foundation of the Republic of Turkey.This makes its foundation one of the most important steps in the history of Turkey's liberation struggle.Following the Ottoman Empire's defeat in World War I, on May 19, 1919 Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Republic of Turkey, left for the Black Sea province of Samsun to start a national liberation campaign.Then, on…
yenisafak.com/en/news/turkey-to-celebrat…

Milan's Plan to Limit Cars After COVID-19 Lockdown Lauded as 'Excellent Example of #BuildBackBetter'
Jessica Corbett, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2020-04-21
Climate activists from across the globe on Tuesday welcomed an ambitious new plan for Milan that will, according to the Guardian, transform 22 miles of street space currently reserved for cars "with a rapid, experimental citywide expansion of cycling and walking space to protect residents as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…
commondreams.org/news/2020/04/21/milans-…