Public education is new freedom struggle
While large numbers of young people now start school in August, Labor Day weekend still marked the “official” end of summer vacation for hundreds of thousands of others. For too many of these youngsters, the excitement of a new school year will wear off quickly as they feel the impact of underfunded schools forced to deal with the emphasis on high-stakes testing.
Detroits Labor Day challenges anti-union drive
DETROIT — Among the many Labor Day parades and picnics across the country last week, this city’s parade had a special edge. While the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News carried editorials supporting anti-union “right-to-work” bills pending in the state Legislature, tens of thousands of trade unionists marching in the heart of Detroit served notice that the attack on labor rights will not go unanswered.
New Orleans residents march on Superdome
NEW ORLEANS — A five-day observance of the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina concluded Sept. 1 with protesters marching on the Superdome to demand delivery of promised funds to rebuild homes, hospitals, schools and the city’s infrastructure.
A crime without borders
I have a confession to make. I assumed that those responsible for the horrific murders in Newark, N.J., of Terrence Aeriel, Dashon Harvey and Ofemi Hightower looked like me. That is, I assumed that they, like each of the victims, were Black.
EDITORIAL: Gonzales out, whats next?
As most Americans breathed a sigh of relief over the departure of Attorney General Alberto “torture is OK” Gonzales, President Bush told reporters he had “reluctantly” accepted Gonzales’ resignation. What’s the message here?
Katrina survivors march for justice
NEW ORLEANS — Undaunted by a tropical downpour, Hurricane Katrina survivors rallied in the Lower Ninth Ward and marched across the Claiborne Street bridge, Aug. 29, chanting, “Justice … now!” They were protesting President Bush’s failure to deliver on his promise two years ago of quick, generous assistance in rebuilding this devastated city.
A few billion here, a few billion there
The market is up! The market is down! The speculators are losing money! Government better do something quick! Interestingly, among the loudest voices calling for the Federal Reserve to take quick action were the same voices who call for smaller government and for government to “get out of the way of business” — a little odd, don’t you think?
EDITORIAL: Sickest of the Sickos
If anything should be a no-brainer for the world’s richest country, it is making sure all its children have basic health care. That’s part of securing our nation’s future, right? Wrong, says the Bush administration.
EDITORIAL: The housing hurricane
Two years ago, Hurricane Katrina caused tens of thousands of families to lose their homes. Last year, the home mortgage meltdown that is now sweeping the country took the homes of 800,000 families. This year, the number could reach 2 million.
As hog boss goes for the kill, workers unite for the fight
Smithfield Packing employs 5,500 workers who slaughter and package the meat of 32,000 hogs a day at its sprawling plant in Tar Heel, a tiny town 80 miles south of Raleigh, N.C. The facility has become a rallying point for the nation’s labor movement and for civil rights, immigrant rights, community and human rights groups seeking an end to injustice.
