New election law carries risks
The passage this October of the “Help America Vote Act” is the product of long and hard work and difficult compromises by members of both the House and Senate, as well as the tireless efforts of election reform advocates around the country. The compromise bill takes historic steps forward, and regrettably, erects barriers at the same time.
One step, millions of steps
If you got on a bus to go to Washington, D.C., for the Oct. 26 antiwar protest, if you took to the streets in San Francisco, or if you took part or plan to take part in a demonstration in any city in the world against the U.S. war against Iraq, you’re in good company. Protest has been the method by which workers have stood together historically to push back the more brutal aims of the ruling class.
Fox hunting trumps activism in major newspapers
In late September, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of London to protest military action against Iraq, rallying in what the London Independent called “one of the biggest peace demonstrations seen in a generation.” Yet neither The Washington Post nor The New York Times saw fit to run a full article about the protests, instead burying passing mentions of the story in articles about other subjects.
International notes
India: Plans made for Nov. 14 anti-Iraq war demo / China: Reaffirms political settlement re Iraq / Brazil: Metalworkers’ Federation congratulates Lula / Ireland: Anti-Racist Workplace Week / Korea: North-South cooperation affirmed / South Africa: Unions protest food prices
National Clips
TAOS, N.M.: 2,500 march at Rumsfeld’s house / FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla.: African-American Research Library & Cultural Center opens / AUGUSTA, Me., MONTPELIER, Vt., NASHVILLE, Tenn.: Marchers call for peace / ALBANY, N.Y.: Insurers must cover womens’ health needs / NASHVILLE, Tenn.: Religious leaders meet on AIDS in Africa / SANTA MONICA, Calif.: Voters to decide on living wage law / NEW YORK: MIT on WTC collapse
Bush, Cheney and Halliburton found guilty
DALLAS – Two hundred low-income activists rode into Dallas on Oct. 24 to make sure that the world knows how George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and the Halliburton Corporation are pulling America down.
Devious: In Jeb Bushs own words
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – In the dead of night, an unknown graffiti artist is placing a big sticker on Jeb Bush campaign posters across the state. The sticker has just one word: “Devious.”
International notes
Italy: General strike for workers’ rights / Colombia: Public workers need support / Kenya: Teachers gain int’l solidarity / Belgium: Int’l unionists denounce McDonald’s / Israel: 100,000 workers strike
Israelis protest show trial of Palestinian
TEL-AVIV – Marwan Barghouti, the leader of El-Fatah – the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s (PLO) majority party chaired by Yasser Arafat – is being convicted and sentenced to death by a small group of hysterical people. Barghouti, arrested in April by the Israeli occupation regime, faces numerous charges, including murder. He was brought with shackled hands and feet to the district court here, Oct. 3.
National Clips
Working families tell candidates: No more business as usual / Texas’ fate is in Latino hands / PHOENIX: Farmworkers lead voter registration drive / PHILADELPHIA: Activist runs for state rep. / BALTIMORE: NAACP says no ‘first-strike’ on Iraq / BOSTON: Demands for peace continue / SANTA CRUZ, Calif.: Campus rallies against Iraq war / TUCSON: 1,500 rally against Bush’s war / WASHINGTON, D.C.: High Court supports juvenile death penalty / HOUSTON: Immigrant workers demand justice / ATLANTA: Delta announces more lay-offs
