Julian Bond testifies in support of immigration rights of same-sex couples
Julian Bond, NAACP chairman, testified yesterday in support of the Uniting American Families Act before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill would give gay and lesbian U.S. citizens and permanent residents the right to sponsor their foreign-born permanent partners for legal residency in the U.S. The act does not provide any other benefits and all other immigration requirements must be met.
Death Row inmate Troy Davis denied opportunity to prove innocence
Congressional leaders and civil rights groups are calling for intervention in the case of Troy Davis, who currently sits on death row in Georgia for a murder he may not have committed.
Congress to cap interest rates on consumer loans
Congress is considering passing a bill that will cap interest rates on consumer loans at 36 percent to prevent lenders from taking advantage of people who rely on these kinds of loans to meet basic needs or to cover unexpected expenses, like car repairs or vital medical procedures, many of whom are minorities and low-income people.
A common person's guide to the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009
On May 21st, following months of work, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACESA), a 932-page piece of climate legislation. There have been mixed reactions from environmental and climate groups, but most groups are in agreement that it needs to be strengthened going forward. For some groups the problems they see with the bill have led to their public withdrawal of support. These groups include Greenpeace USA, Public Citizen and Friends of the Earth. The Chesapeake Climate Action Network also does not support the bill in current form.
Retired shingle mill worker contributes to PWW fund goal
FORKS, WA---It took Roberta Wood a 2,000 mile plane ride, two ferries, two transit bus rides and a long drive around Lake Crescent to visit Carl Lausche in the West End of Clallam County, WA. Lausche, 86, lives in a comfortable new mobile home in a clearing behind his daughter Linda’s house surrounded by miles of deep evergreen forest, mountains, and glacial rivers that teem with salmon and steelhead. The region is famed for receiving 114 inches, 12 feet of rain annually.
Spirited May Day Rally raises worker activism and funds
NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- International workers' solidarity was in the air at the People's Weekly World May Day rally, 'No Cuts - No Layoffs - Tax the Rich,' on Sunday, May 5. The jammed hall greeted a powerpoint photo presentation of workers confronting the economic crisis on every continent followed by a panel discussion by Connecticut union leaders.
Pete Seeger: 90 years of song and struggle
Born 90 years ago this May 3, Pete Seeger has been a tireless performer of topical song and a champion of global folklore, focusing his strongest efforts on that which was created by, for and about, the so-called common man.
Art exhibit illustrates horrors of Iraq occupation
HOUSTON - Upon entering The Station Museum of Contemporary Art on the edge of the city’s downtown to view the exhibition “Iraqi Artists in Exile,” I was hit with the questions “How do we justify the destruction of a country and her people? What do we say?” This wonderful museum is renowned for its thought provoking exhibitions. This phenomenal exhibition has not been placed at any other museum in the United States due to its controversial nature. The exhibition evokes feelings of what oppressed people around the world are experiencing.
Bandana Project protests sexual violence against women farmworkers
CHICAGO — Farmworker and women’s rights groups came together here April 8, to protest sexual violence against farmworker women and other low-wage female immigrant workers in the U.S.
Give Americans a real health care choice, say advocates
'Don't cut the heart out of President Obama's health care reform plan' is the message many people will be delivering to their members of Congress this week as part of a national effort to push for meaningful health care reform.
