Tag: North America

North America

Federal judge halts Texas anti-sanctuary law

ICE detentionA federal judge in San Antonio issued a preliminary injunction against most of SB4, the anti-Sanctuary Cities law that would have effectively forced every police agency in Texas to allow its officers to question the immigration status of anyone stopped for any reason. It would have also have forced agencies to send information on undocumented detainees to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

North America

Nazis in the streets: how do we react?

CounterVortexThe violence in Berkeley has sparked divisions over how to confront the fast-rising radical right. One danger of advocating nonviolence is playing into the hands of the equivalists who blame both sides (or "many sides") for the violence. On the other hand, the fact that equivalist propaganda will be used doesn't give us a blank check to dismiss the whole discussion of astute tactics.

North America

Arpaio pardon: green light for rights violations

border fenceTrump's pardon of former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio is a clear signal that constitutional and human rights violations are to be rewarded, not punished, under his administration. A federal judge found Arpaio guilty of criminal contempt last month, for violating a court order in a racial profiling case. In his announcement, Trump said that "Arpaio's life and career…exemplify selfless public service."

North America

Charlottesville and Barcelona: fearful symmetry

SpainTrump's disparate reactions to the similar attacks in Charlottesville and Barcelona provide a study not only in double standards, but (worse) the president's actual embrace of racist terror. While saying there were "good people" on the side that was flying the Nazi flag and committed an act of terror in Virginia, he used the attack in Spain as an opportunity to unabashedly call for war crimes against Muslims.

North America

Rights violations seen in federal Mara crackdown

Civil rights organizations in New York are trying to determine if police and school officials on Long Island helped federal authorities detain immigrant students on the basis of dubious claims of ties to Central American gangs. The controversy comes after Trump's inflammatory speech before  Suffolk County police, in which he pledged to "destroy" the MS-13 gang, calling its members "animals."

North America

Assad’s radical right admirers in Charlottesville

charlottesvilleA curious link to Syria was seen at the white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville: an admiration for  dictator Bashar Assad. James Fields—detained after his car rammed counter-protesters, killing one—featured Assad on his Facebook page. Marchers chanted in support of Assad and wore T-shirts celebrating his barrel-bombs that have killed thousands of Syrians.

North America

Car culture, racism: Charlottesville makes the link

charlottesvilleThe man arrested for ploughing his car into anti-racist counter-protesters at the Charlottesville "Unite the Right" rally is identified as a follower of the Vanguard America hate group. We will now be treated to endless debate about whether he is a "terrorist" or just an angry lone nut—with both sides overlooking the critical role of car culture in the attack.

North America

Supreme Court to review Trump travel ban

The US Supreme Court agreed to review the Trump administration's travel ban, partially lifting the temporary injunction that had blocked the ban's enforcement.

North America

Dangerous conditions in US immigration centers

Human Rights Watch warned of "systemic failures" in health care at US immigration detention centers, leading to several "needless and preventable deaths" in recent years. 

North America

Sessions pledges crackdown on Latin gangs

Attorney General Jeff Sessions pledged "zero tolerance for gang violence"—singling out MS-13, the Central American narco-network with roots on the streets of Los Angeles.