Take me out to the ball game
CHICAGO – In our fourth annual outing, 50 friends and allies here raised $500 for our favorite publication, People’s Weekly World/Nuestro Mundo, by way of rooting for the city’s Southside team, the White Sox, at its June 8 game. The Sox went up against the Detroit Tigers who are currently in first place in the Central Division.
On same-sex benefits change is welcome but ... LGBT leaders challenge Obama to go further
Leading civil rights organizations welcomed President Obama's memorandum expanding some benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees June 17, but called on the President to take bolder steps on other hot-button LGBT equality issues.
Immigrant deaths in detention raise questions about oversight of private prisons
A coalition of immigrant and civil rights groups held a vigil in front of the Atlanta headquarters of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency last week to mark the three-month anniversary of Roberto Martinez Medina's death in immigrant detention in southwest Georgia.
Teenagers involved in hate crime sentenced
A Pennsylvania judged sentenced the two teenagers convicted of simple assault for their role in the July 2008 fatal beating of Luiz Ramirez, a 25 year-old Mexican immigrant, to prison for up to 23 months.
US needs to act to end discrimination
The United Nations special rapporteur on racism has urged Washington to do more to address 'ongoing issues of racism and ethnic discrimination' in the US. Offering recommendations before the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Tuesday, special rapporteur Githu Muigai said that, 'for the US to lead by example, it should do more to address ongoing issues of racism and ethnic discrimination.'
Jane Hodes, lifelong activist, founder of Niebyl-Proctor Library
Jane E. Hodes, a longtime Communist Party member and activist for peace, social and economic justice, died June 6 at the Oakland, Calif. retirement home where she had lived for many years. She was 90 years old.
Obama, grassroots groups move to protect consumers from Wall Street
WASHINGTON — Condemning Wall Street’s “culture of irresponsibility” that plunged the nation into the worst economic crisis in 80 years, President Obama unveiled a sweeping plan June 17 to strengthen bank regulation and protect consumers from predatory lending and other financial abuses.
New study calls for action on rising hate crimes
Leaders of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and the Anti-Defamation League held a June 16 conference call to release a new report called, “Confronting the New Faces of Hate Crimes in America.”
Economists, small business owners say health reform key to economic revival
The idea that the US can't afford comprehensive health care reform during a recession, as pushed by some opponents of President Obama's call for reform this year, is flat out wrong, said a statement signed by more than 330 economists and released this week by the Institute for America's Future.
Grassroots action: Join us in DC June 25, lobby for quality, affordable health care for all'
Under the banner “Health Care ’09: We Can’t Wait,” Americans across the country are being urged to get on busses, planes or trains or car pool to Washington June 25, “to lobby every Member of Congress in support of quality, affordable health care for all.” The national lobby day is being organized by Health Care for America Now, the national coalition of labor, community and social justice groups.
