therealnews--2020-09-17--Medical abuse allegations at ICE facility add to US history of forced sterilization

The imminent deportation of Pauline Binam , who alleges she was involuntarily sterilized in custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement last year , was halted on Wednesday .
Binam was held at an ICE facility where a whistleblower alleged this week that a doctor carried out medical procedures on detained women without consent .
ICE told NPR the deportation was halted because of a paperwork snafu , but immigrant groups and several members of Congress had mobilized on Binam ’ s behalf .
Binam , who is originally from Cameroon and has lived in the United States since the age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a plane and was to be deported Wednesday morning before her deportation was temporarily reversed .
Earlier this week , a woman who accused guards in a Texas ICE facility of sexual assault was deported to Mexico even while serving as key witness in an ongoing investigation into the charges , The Texas Tribune and ProPublica reported .
Washington State Rep. Pramilya Jayapal , who helped intervene in Binam ’ s case , said in a statement that the allegations represent “ the most abhorrent of human rights violations , ” after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 17 women who were subjected to forced sterilization or other medical procedures at the privately run Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia .
“ Pauline , who was nearly deported this morning , consulted the doctor simply about her menstrual cycle .
She was put under for what she was told would be a simple procedure , only to wake up and find that the doctor had removed part of her reproductive organs without her knowledge or consent .
Another woman , already deported , apparently went in to see the doctor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ended up having gynecological surgery .
Two additional women apparently were shackled to the bed , reported to have had surgical procedures , including one apparent hysterectomy , without any consent , ” Jayapal said .
On Sept. 14 , Dawn Wooten , a former nurse at a privately run immigrant detention center , filed a whistleblower complaint alleging hysterectomies and other medical procedures were forcibly performed at the facility and likening the conditions to a “ concentration camp.
” Her allegations evoke the long history of the practice of forced sterilization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ uterus collector ” carried out the unwanted medical procedures .
“ I had several detained women on numerous occasions that would come to me and say , ‘ Ms .
Wooten , I had a hysterectomy .
Why ?
’ , ” she told MSNBC .
“ I had no answers as to why they had those procedures.
” “ I am horrified and outraged to hear these stories , which contain may consistencies and raise serious questions about not only this particular doctor but about the entire detention system—largely for-profit—that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has long run roughshod over and ignored neglected the health , wellbeing and human rights of immigrants , ” Jayapal said .
While many have compared these allegations to Nazi Germany , the United States has a long history of forced sterilization that has continued into the 21st century , primarily carried out against people of color , immigrants , people , the mentally ill , and the disabled .
Studies show Black women were targeted for sterilization at rates 12 times higher than white men .
Hundreds of female inmates in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2010 , according to a 2013 report in the Center for Investigative Reporting .
In 1976 , the U.S. government admitted to the sterilization of thousands of Native Americans without their consent .
One third of Puerto Rican women were sterilized between the 1930s and the 1970s , in an effort that was revealed to be part of an effort to reduce unemployment .
California ’ s 1909 eugenics law targeting those the state considered unfit to reproduce inspired the Nazis .
70,000 Americans were forcibly sterilized during the 20th century .
Wooten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups Project South and Government Accountability Project , also alleges a lack of protection against COVID-19 for detained immigrants , including a lack of personal protective equipment ( PPE ) .
Those in ICE ’ s custody were also unable to practice social distancing , and were not given access to COVID-19 testing .
Immigrants who spoke out were punished with solitary confinement , the complaint alleges .
One detainee in the complaint is quoted as saying , “ We ’ re very afraid of being incarcerated here and dying here .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are wives , we need freedom .
Please help us.
” The doctor who is alleged to have carried out the procedures was not named in the complaint , but has been identified by news agencies as Mahendra Amin , who has denied the allegations , along with ICE , who say they are investigating the allegations .
“ For years , advocates in Georgia have raised red flags about the human rights violations occurring inside the Irwin County Detention Center , ” Project South Staff Attorney Priyanka Bhatt said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s whistleblowing disclosures confirm what detained immigrants have been reporting for years : gross disregard for health and safety standards , lack of medical care , and unsanitary living conditions at Irwin.
” A 2017 report by Project South detailed human rights abuses at two Georgia facilities , including the Irwin County Detention Center , such as the denial of access to adequate food and water , adequate living conditions , and medical and mental healthcare .
The report recommended both facilities be closed immediately .
Immigration advocacy groups have warned of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , under the Trump administration , whose chief architect of immigration policy , Stephen Miller , who has a documented history of espousing white nationalism , and was called a ‘ white supremacist ’ by a former colleague .

The imminent deportation of Pauline Binam, who alleges she was involuntarily sterilized in custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement last year, was halted on Wednesday. Binam was held at an ICE facility where a whistleblower alleged this week that a doctor carried out medical procedures on detained women without consent. ICE told NPR the deportation was halted because of a paperwork snafu, but immigrant groups and several members of Congress had mobilized on Binam’s behalf.
BREAKING: WE JUST GOT PAULINE OFF THE PLANE
Thanks to YOU and help from @RepJayapal & @JacksonLeeTX18 #FreePauline has a chance to take part in the investigation abuses of dozens of women in ICE detention.
Donate to her continuing legal defense: https://t.co/8LYau7I51K https://t.co/8fCebelKep — Mijente 🐜🐜🐜 (@ConMijente) September 16, 2020
Binam, who is originally from Cameroon and has lived in the United States since the age of two, had already been placed into a plane and was to be deported Wednesday morning before her deportation was temporarily reversed. Earlier this week, a woman who accused guards in a Texas ICE facility of sexual assault was deported to Mexico even while serving as key witness in an ongoing investigation into the charges, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica reported.
Washington State Rep. Pramilya Jayapal, who helped intervene in Binam’s case, said in a statement that the allegations represent “the most abhorrent of human rights violations,” after speaking to three attorneys who represent at least 17 women who were subjected to forced sterilization or other medical procedures at the privately run Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia.
“Pauline, who was nearly deported this morning, consulted the doctor simply about her menstrual cycle. She was put under for what she was told would be a simple procedure, only to wake up and find that the doctor had removed part of her reproductive organs without her knowledge or consent. Another woman, already deported, apparently went in to see the doctor for a simple condition related to diabetes and ended up having gynecological surgery. Two additional women apparently were shackled to the bed, reported to have had surgical procedures, including one apparent hysterectomy, without any consent,” Jayapal said.
On Sept. 14, Dawn Wooten, a former nurse at a privately run immigrant detention center, filed a whistleblower complaint alleging hysterectomies and other medical procedures were forcibly performed at the facility and likening the conditions to a “concentration camp.” Her allegations evoke the long history of the practice of forced sterilization.
Wooten said a doctor known as the “uterus collector” carried out the unwanted medical procedures.
“I had several detained women on numerous occasions that would come to me and say, ‘Ms. Wooten, I had a hysterectomy. Why?’,” she told MSNBC. “I had no answers as to why they had those procedures.”
Dawn Wooten, the nurse who blew the whistle on ICE, just went on MSNBC. This is being done in our name. pic.twitter.com/ljacMzUQ0N — Joshua Potash (@JoshuaPotash) September 16, 2020
“I am horrified and outraged to hear these stories, which contain may consistencies and raise serious questions about not only this particular doctor but about the entire detention system—largely for-profit—that is complicit in the abuses of rights and has long run roughshod over and ignored neglected the health, wellbeing and human rights of immigrants,” Jayapal said.
While many have compared these allegations to Nazi Germany, the United States has a long history of forced sterilization that has continued into the 21st century, primarily carried out against people of color, immigrants, people, the mentally ill, and the disabled. Studies show Black women were targeted for sterilization at rates 12 times higher than white men. Hundreds of female inmates in California were illegally sterilized between 1997 and 2010, according to a 2013 report in the Center for Investigative Reporting. In 1976, the U.S. government admitted to the sterilization of thousands of Native Americans without their consent. One third of Puerto Rican women were sterilized between the 1930s and the 1970s, in an effort that was revealed to be part of an effort to reduce unemployment. California’s 1909 eugenics law targeting those the state considered unfit to reproduce inspired the Nazis. 70,000 Americans were forcibly sterilized during the 20th century.
Wooten, who is being represented by the groups Project South and Government Accountability Project, also alleges a lack of protection against COVID-19 for detained immigrants, including a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE). Those in ICE’s custody were also unable to practice social distancing, and were not given access to COVID-19 testing. Immigrants who spoke out were punished with solitary confinement, the complaint alleges.
One detainee in the complaint is quoted as saying, “We’re very afraid of being incarcerated here and dying here. We are daughters, we are mothers, we are wives, we need freedom. Please help us.”
The doctor who is alleged to have carried out the procedures was not named in the complaint, but has been identified by news agencies as Mahendra Amin, who has denied the allegations, along with ICE, who say they are investigating the allegations.
“For years, advocates in Georgia have raised red flags about the human rights violations occurring inside the Irwin County Detention Center,” Project South Staff Attorney Priyanka Bhatt said in a press release. “Ms. Wooten’s whistleblowing disclosures confirm what detained immigrants have been reporting for years: gross disregard for health and safety standards, lack of medical care, and unsanitary living conditions at Irwin.”
A 2017 report by Project South detailed human rights abuses at two Georgia facilities, including the Irwin County Detention Center, such as the denial of access to adequate food and water, adequate living conditions, and medical and mental healthcare. The report recommended both facilities be closed immediately.
Immigration advocacy groups have warned of worsening abuse of detainees, especially women, under the Trump administration, whose chief architect of immigration policy, Stephen Miller, who has a documented history of espousing white nationalism, and was called a ‘white supremacist’ by a former colleague.
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therealnews--2020-09-17--How the pandemic undermines low income workers

Jaisal Noor : Welcome to “ The Real News ” .
I ’ m Jaisal Noor .
As the COVID-19 death toll surpasses 190,000 and Senate Republicans continue to block additional unemployment relief , workers are hoping to push local governments to enact protections against corporate greed .
Speaker 2 : And during a pandemic , this is where we need to be stepping up as leaders in the city of Baltimore , where we need to be putting out legislation to protect these workers .
Jaisal Noor : Over a dozen workers held a socially distanced rally at Baltimore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would defend the labor rights of thousands of laid-off hospitality workers who are disproportionately women and people of color .
Speaker 3 : I work at the Baltimore Hilton .
I ’ ve been there for 13 years , and I am a lobby attendant .
My job is very important to me .
It helped me support myself and my family and my grandchildren .
Speaker 4 : My name is [ inaudible 00:00:59 ] .
I ’ ve been at the Hilton for four years , and I ’ m supporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cole Taylor : My name is Cole Taylor .
I ’ ve work at the Hilton for 10 years .
I just recently had a grandson last year .
Jaisal Noor : As coronavirus restrictions begin to ease , workers rally to support a bill that would require employers to rehire laid-off staff first .
Speaker 6 : … Has invested very , very heavily in the hospitality industry , giving large subsidies and tax breaks .
For example , the Marriott Waterfront , which is owned by private equity group UBS , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid $ 1 a year in lieu of taxes .
Jaisal Noor : Similar measures have been passed in California , in Oakland , San Francisco , and Los Angeles .
And , on Thursday , Baltimore city council will consider two bills , council bills 20-544 and 20-543 .
Speaker 2 : We know that in the city of Baltimore , we haven ’ t done enough to protect our communities of color and make sure that they have everything that they need to thrive in the city of Baltimore .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racial justice issue , an economic justice issue .

Corporations are using COVID-19 as an excuse to treat low-wage workers as disposable
Story Transcript
Jaisal Noor: Welcome to “The Real News”. I’m Jaisal Noor. As the COVID-19 death toll surpasses 190,000 and Senate Republicans continue to block additional unemployment relief, workers are hoping to push local governments to enact protections against corporate greed.
Speaker 2: And during a pandemic, this is where we need to be stepping up as leaders in the city of Baltimore, where we need to be putting out legislation to protect these workers.
Jaisal Noor: Over a dozen workers held a socially distanced rally at Baltimore City Hall to support a bill that would defend the labor rights of thousands of laid-off hospitality workers who are disproportionately women and people of color.
Speaker 3: I work at the Baltimore Hilton. I’ve been there for 13 years, and I am a lobby attendant. My job is very important to me. It helped me support myself and my family and my grandchildren.
Speaker 4: My name is [inaudible 00:00:59]. I’ve been at the Hilton for four years, and I’m supporting 20 people, family and friends.
Cole Taylor: My name is Cole Taylor. I’ve work at the Hilton for 10 years. I just recently had a grandson last year.
Jaisal Noor: As coronavirus restrictions begin to ease, workers rally to support a bill that would require employers to rehire laid-off staff first.
Speaker 6: … Has invested very, very heavily in the hospitality industry, giving large subsidies and tax breaks. For example, the Marriott Waterfront, which is owned by private equity group UBS, over the last 20 years has only paid $1 a year in lieu of taxes.
Jaisal Noor: Similar measures have been passed in California, in Oakland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. And, on Thursday, Baltimore city council will consider two bills, council bills 20-544 and 20-543.
Speaker 2: We know that in the city of Baltimore, we haven’t done enough to protect our communities of color and make sure that they have everything that they need to thrive in the city of Baltimore. So, yes, this is absolutely a racial justice issue, an economic justice issue.
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therealnews--2020-09-16--Report reveals US State Department gave money to firm tied to Haitian police

The U.S. Department of State issued a $ 73,000 contract to a Haitian security firm to provide “ riot gear kits ” while anti-government protests in Haiti were underway , according to a report .
The report , published by the Center for Economic and Policy Research ( CEPR ) found that in November 2019 , the State Department signed a contract with X-International , a firm with close ties to the Haitian National Police and police ’ s “ crowd control unit.
” Haitians have been protesting government corruption since July 2018 .
The main catalyst was a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that President Jovenel Moïse “ embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars of government funds ” meant for social programs .
Amnesty International confirms evidence of police “ using excessive use of force against protesters , ” along with instances of killings by police.The organization ’ s reports show evidence of police “ using excessive use of force against protesters.
” The Trump administration has heavily contributed to the Haitian police force , quadrupling U.S. contribution “ from $ 2.8 million in 2016 to more than $ 12.4 million last year.
” Considering that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Department signed is even more alarming .
CEPR ’ s report mentions how in early summer 2020 , tear gas manufactured in the United States was “ used to disperse activists ” in front of Haiti ’ s Ministry of Justice .
These activists had the proper legal clearance to be in front of the building , and the protesters were still repressed .
But not all demonstrations were policed equally .
After the Ministry of Justice protests , CEPR ’ s report notes that a group of armed people led by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went to the same location , and police forces did not disperse them .
Chérizier , nicknamed ‘ Barbeque , ’ is the leader of G9 Family and Allies , a gang made up of nine other gangs in the area .
Chérizier is notorious for allegedly being involved , according to the UN , in two massacres in neighborhoods in Haiti ’ s capital , Port-au-Prince , while he was a police officer .
The first was in November 2017 in Grand Ravine , where the “ extrajudicial execution of at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The second was in November 2018 in La Saline , where 71 people were killed .
CEPR ’ s report discovered that X-International—which is owned by Carl Frédéric Martin , “ a former member of the U.S. Navy ” notable for becoming “ increasingly involved in Haiti ’ s security forces over the last few years ” —was the recipient of this contract to provide riot gear .
The report outlines the connection between Martin and one of his relatives , Dimitri Herard , who works in the Haitian government as the head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
CEPR ’ s report says that “ the two are operating one of the most lucrative arms dealerships in the country .
”

The U.S. Department of State issued a $73,000 contract to a Haitian security firm to provide “riot gear kits” while anti-government protests in Haiti were underway, according to a report.
The report, published by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) found that in November 2019, the State Department signed a contract with X-International, a firm with close ties to the Haitian National Police and police’s “crowd control unit.”
Haitians have been protesting government corruption since July 2018. The main catalyst was a “rise in petrol prices” and accusations that President Jovenel Moïse “embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars of government funds” meant for social programs.
Amnesty International confirms evidence of police “using excessive use of force against protesters,” along with instances of killings by police.The organization’s reports show evidence of police “using excessive use of force against protesters.”
The Trump administration has heavily contributed to the Haitian police force, quadrupling U.S. contribution “from $2.8 million in 2016 to more than $12.4 million last year.”
Considering that increase in funding, the contract the State Department signed is even more alarming. CEPR’s report mentions how in early summer 2020, tear gas manufactured in the United States was “used to disperse activists” in front of Haiti’s Ministry of Justice. These activists had the proper legal clearance to be in front of the building, and the protesters were still repressed.
But not all demonstrations were policed equally. After the Ministry of Justice protests, CEPR’s report notes that a group of armed people led by a former police officer named Jimmy Chérizier went to the same location, and police forces did not disperse them.
Chérizier, nicknamed ‘Barbeque,’ is the leader of G9 Family and Allies, a gang made up of nine other gangs in the area. Chérizier is notorious for allegedly being involved, according to the UN, in two massacres in neighborhoods in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, while he was a police officer. The first was in November 2017 in Grand Ravine, where the “extrajudicial execution of at least 14 innocent civilians” took place. The second was in November 2018 in La Saline, where 71 people were killed.
CEPR’s report discovered that X-International—which is owned by Carl Frédéric Martin, “a former member of the U.S. Navy” notable for becoming “increasingly involved in Haiti’s security forces over the last few years”—was the recipient of this contract to provide riot gear.
The report outlines the connection between Martin and one of his relatives, Dimitri Herard, who works in the Haitian government as the head of the country’s palace guard. CEPR’s report says that “the two are operating one of the most lucrative arms dealerships in the country.”
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therealnews--2020-09-16--The unrest in Kenosha didn’t come out of thin air

We have known about the over-policing of Black and brown communities there for a long time , experts say .

We have known about the over-policing of Black and brown communities there for a long time, experts say.
Story Transcript
Eddie: A study in 2013 shows that Wisconsin incarcerated more black men than any other state in the United States in spite of the fact that the black population is only 6.5%. Also, Wisconsin has a very high rate of incarceration for indigenous people. So in light of the recent events in Kenosha, the Department of Corrections building was burned to the ground. And I have with me today, two people that work with the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee to talk about Wisconsin, its prison population, and what’s going on inside the prison in terms of organizing the incarcerated workers. So joining me today is Robert Thiebaud and Ron Schroeder. Thank you for joining me, Robert and Ron.
Robert Thiebaud: Thank you, Eddie.
Ron Schroeder: Thank you, Eddie.
Eddie: The first question I want to address to Robert though, is what has changed since the 2013 study in terms of the incarceration rate for people of color and conditions in the prison system.
Robert Thiebaud: In Wisconsin, very little has changed. The numbers have held about even, or maybe gone up a little bit. Other states have made some significant changes to reduce prison populations, but Wisconsin as resisted all those changes. Part of it was the administration, Department of Corrections and the Governor in our state until two years ago were not interested in it, in a system that developed where, especially people of color, black, Hispanic, native Americans in Wisconsin were very highly targeted, incarcerated at much higher levels than anybody else. That’s really helped keep our prisons full. The other thing that we have is a routine in the state where probation officers can revoke someone’s extended supervision, to use the right term, for a rule violation, any little thing, not a new breaking the law, just not following some rule and that keeps the prisons pretty full.
The last numbers I have that I’m sure of, 2018, of the adults who were incarcerated that year, 45% of them were not new cases, but people who were being revoked by the probation officers without a new trial, just sent back for more prison time. So we’re going nowhere.
Eddie: Ron, can you tell me what role did the former governor, Scott Walker, play in this crazy level of incarceration?
Ron Schroeder: I can. Governor Scott Walker co-wrote the truth in sentencing law, which means a person spends day for day in prison without any opportunity for early release for good time. In addition to that, under Scott Walker’s administration, the state has allocated more funds for corrections than it has for higher education. The state spends more money to incarcerate than to educate. And the same applies for treatment, a vast majority of African Americans are arrested and incarcerated for low level drug offenses. And the state, especially under Scott Walker’s administration has chosen to spend more money on corrections, imprisoning minorities than it has for rehabilitating.
Eddie: You know, I mean, everybody across the nation is so aware of what happened in Kenosha, but recently the Department of Correction was burned down. What happened, and I would just like to just have some opinions. Why did the situation get to that point? The boiling point that has led to all of this stuff going on now?
Robert Thiebaud: Yeah, I think there’s two questions in there. Well, as Ron was mentioning Governor Walker, actually, a lot of what he started was when he was a state senator, so we’re going back to the late 90s where they started increasing penalties and locking people up and filling up the jails. So it’s been going on a long time. And then what I was saying before about the probation agents, being able to do basically whatever they wanted, that’s been a real hot point with anybody, not only the people who are on probation, but their families because all of a sudden somebody is just locked up on a whim or what seems to be a whim.
Black lives matter we keep hearing and that’s focused on what’s happening on the streets with the police. But it also goes into the prisons because the whole criminal justice system starts with the police on the streets, but it goes to the prisons too. So there’s, I think, why that office was just a target, was a site for the anger to be brought out on. As to why we got to the flash point, I think it’s because the people in that city are tired of nothing changing.
All this discussion for, seems forever, but especially the last few months, and we still have people being shot for no reason, really. And people like the Kenosha Police and the Sheriff’s Department don’t have body cameras. They didn’t think it was important. It’s in the budget for 2022. So very definitely the people were angry because nothing’s changing.
Ron Schroeder: Bob is correct. What happened in Kenosha is a culmination, is a result of a culmination of years and years of oppression and of police officers shooting young unarmed black men. And it turns out to be that young person’s word against the cops. And there’s an appearance or a wide belief that young black men don’t stand a chance when it’s their word against the police officers. Make no mistake, Eddie, Bob, I nor IWOC condone violence of any sort, but we certainly reject violence and abuse of authority, any type of excessive violence towards anyone, especially young unarmed people.
Eddie: Both of you all can answer this because I’m curious. Talk a little bit about the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee. What is it and why did you all start it?
Ron Schroeder: Oh, it’s just that, an organizing committee designed specifically for people that are incarcerated. We feel it’s important to identify the problems within the Wisconsin prison systems and to alert people in authority, mainly prison wardens, the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and our lawmakers of the various abuses that they’re subjected to. It’s widely perceived as modern day slavery. And what I mean by that, or as an example is many incarcerated adults in Wisconsin earn $8 a month. And a tube of toothpaste this year can cost as high as $8 a tube. So to put that into perspective, if a person in the community is earning $10 an hour, $400 a week, that would be the equivalent of a citizen paying $1,600 for a tube of toothpaste.
It’s understandable why it’s widely perceived as modern day slavery and IWOC is doing the best that we can to shed light on these injustices.
Robert Thiebaud: For background, Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee was formed in 2014. It’s a part of the Industrial Workers of the World, which was founded in 1914 or something like that. And it was, as Ron was saying, it was founded to give a voice to the people incarcerated because they can complain in the system and the system just rejects their complaints. They can complain to the warden. They don’t have a voice. I think one of the biggest things I see IWOC doing is creating a voice outside, making people aware, helping families and other advocates, if you will, community organizations bring pressure with the administrations. In some cases, the Secretary of the Department of Corrections doesn’t necessarily know what a warden in a particular prison is doing. He thinks they’re following certain procedures like wearing masks for COVID and the people aren’t. So being a voice for the people who don’t have it, is probably the biggest thing we do, I feel.
Eddie: What can the public do? Family, loved ones, supporters or just people that’s concerned about conditions? What can they do if you got some advice.
Ron Schroeder: Eddie, the vast majority of people are not aware of the conditions and the abuses that occur Wisconsin prisons until they themselves are incarcerated or someone close to them is incarcerated. We have a wonderful example of a professional woman who recently joined IWOC. She knew nothing about the conditions and the abuses until a relative of hers was incarcerated and then her eyes became very wide open and she has become a very fierce advocate, not just for her relative, but for others who have incarcerated loved ones that are facing the same type of abuses.
So to answer your question, what can people on the ground do if they don’t have someone that they know is incarcerated, we strongly encourage them to join an organization such as IWOC and get involved, be a voice. Everyone contributes in different ways. One of my favorite ways of explaining this, tongue and cheek, my definition of a republican is someone who has never had a family member involved in the correction system because once you have somebody involved in the system, your opinion changes very quick.
The best thing we can do, and we’re actually blessed, at least in southeast Wisconsin and Madison areas, we have a number of organizations that are trying to make changes. ACLU in Wisconsin has been storming capitol because our republican assembly was still trying to build new prisons as a February. At one point they say they’re going to change things, but at another point they building new prisons. Well, made enough noise that that bill got killed. Prison Action Milwaukee is another group I work with that tries to work with families because the families can be almost even more isolated out and alone, trying to figure out what to do and how to get things done. Wisdom Expo, Project Return, we have a whole bunch of organizations.
If anybody wants to find out more, they can contact any of these people. If they get more informed, they’ll get angry and they’ll start getting on phones, taking a look at who they vote for, helping to make change, which right now it sounds like maybe we’re going to be able to do some of that. At least we’re hoping so. So that’s what I hope can come from some of these discussions. There’s some real change.
Eddie: Okay. Thanks for joining me, Robert, Ron.
Ron Schroeder: Thank you. Eddie.
Robert Thiebaud: Thank you for having us today, Eddie.
Eddie: Thank you for joining this episode of Rattling the Bars.
Post-Production: Cameron Granadino
Studio: Cameron Granadino
Production: Ericka Blount
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therealnews--2020-09-16--The hosts of TRNN’s Police Accountability Report urgently need your support

Help Taya and Stephen raise $ 50,000 so they can continue bringing you stories that hold policing accountable and keep @ @ @

Host & Producer
Stephen Janis is an award winning investigative reporter turned documentary filmmaker. His first feature film, The Friendliest Town was distributed by Gravitas Ventures and won an award of distinction from The Impact Doc Film Festival, and a humanitarian award from The Indie Film Fest. He is the co-host and creator of The Police Accountability Report on The Real News Network, which has received more than 10,000,000 views on YouTube. His work as a reporter has been featured on a variety of national shows including the Netflix reboot of Unsolved Mysteries, Dead of Night on Investigation Discovery Channel, Relentless on NBC, and Sins of the City on TV One.
He has co-authored several books on policing, corruption, and the root causes of violence including Why Do We Kill: The Pathology of Murder in Baltimore and You Can’t Stop Murder: Truths about Policing in Baltimore and Beyond. He is also the co-host of the true crime podcast Land of the Unsolved. Prior to joining The Real News, Janis won three Capital Emmys for investigative series working as an investigative producer for WBFF. Follow him on Twitter.


therealnews--2020-09-15--The Devolution of America

The Devolution of America

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therealnews--2020-09-15--Remembering Kevin Zeese: A fighter for peace and justice

Peace activist and human rights attorney Kevin Zeese died of a heart attack on the morning of September 6 .
As his life partner , Dr. Margaret Flowers , and their community grieve , they celebrate his life by carrying on the work that they began together .
Zeese was known for organizing around many human rights issues , centering opposition to U.S. imperialism abroad and mass incarceration at home .
He brought national attention to America ’ s prison-industrial complex , first as the chief legal counsel , then as executive director for the National Organization for the Reform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1980-1986 .
Zeese and Flowers helped catalyze the Occupy Wall Street movement in 2011 , co-founded the outlet Popular Resistance , and led a month-long sit-in at the Venezualan Embassy in Washington , D.C. , last year in opposition to the Trump administration ’ s support for a coup that would benefit Exxon Mobil .
Last week , The Real News Network spoke with Dr .
Flowers over the phone about her partner ’ s legacy .
“ Within his lifetime he saw the fruits of his work , ” Flowers said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he was getting death threats .
Back then , you weren ’ t allowed to talk about decriminalization .
Now we see legalization in so many states , and people are starting to get out of prison for marijuana.
” Flowers told The Real News that Zeese spent the days before his death working around the clock .
The pair were creating a webinar to discuss the ongoing hearing to extradite Julian Assange and its implications for the future of press freedom in the U.S .
Flowers returned to work on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s death , saying the issue is too pivotal to delay discussion .
“ I ’ m not at 100 % but I ’ m doing what I can , ” she explained .
“ The Assange case could establish the loss of freedom of the press , and that could really be a turning point in the 21st century .
“ Julian is from Australia .
He is not a U.S. citizen , but the U.S. is able to go after him , to bring him here , to put him in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What does that say about what happens to you if you go after an empire ?
” Just three days before his death , Zeese worked with the Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition ( BACC ) to coordinate direct action to stop the demolition of their historic burial ground .
Dr. Coleman-Adebeyo , editor of the Black Agenda Report , recently paid tribute to Zeese : “ After this shock and all of the pain , what I will remember is Kevin ’ s voice last Friday , his patience , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the heat of our struggle to save Moses African Cemetery , in the heat of the road in Bethesda on a hot September day when he stood and reasoned with the police who had arrayed themselves again against our non-violent protests , as though we were the ones threatening violence , as though we were the ones hurling invective , curses , and threats .
There , at the side of River Road , stood Kevin Zeese , nodding , listening , offering alternatives , presenting our case that resulted in no arrests.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and colleagues have shared their own stories , remembering him as a reassuring and inspiring presence when direct action became dangerous—something Flowers told the Real News , as well : .
“ So many people said to me that when they saw Kevin at an event , they knew they would be safe , they knew they were in the right place to be.
” Writer Max Blumenthal recorded a tribute video where he recounted working with Zeese to sneak food supplies past counterprotesters during their 2019 sit-in at the Venezulan Embassy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ration food as groups aligned with Donald Trump and Venezuelan opposition leader and self-declared president Juan Guaidó physically blocked supplies from entering the embassy building .
“ I had a 50 pound bag of beans , which were essential , ” Blumenthal said .
“ I threw it to him , and watched him look in astonishment as it landed at his feet , then he laughed mischievously , knowing that we had defeated Guiadó ’ s gang and that the embassy would last another day.
” Flowers says that her partner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how fleeting a lifetime can be , and that he placed his hope for a more just world in youth activists .
“ He was always pushing people to be the ones that are out there speaking .
I ’ ve been getting all of these emails from younger people who say that he made them feel like their voices mattered , ” Flowers said .
“ We talked about how we couldn ’ t fix everything in our lifetime , but we do what we can in our lifetime .
We talked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was going to come behind us , in the next generation.
” A virtual memorial service will be held for Kevin Zeese on September 19 .

Peace activist and human rights attorney Kevin Zeese died of a heart attack on the morning of September 6. As his life partner, Dr. Margaret Flowers, and their community grieve, they celebrate his life by carrying on the work that they began together.
Zeese was known for organizing around many human rights issues, centering opposition to U.S. imperialism abroad and mass incarceration at home. He brought national attention to America’s prison-industrial complex, first as the chief legal counsel, then as executive director for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) from 1980-1986.
Zeese and Flowers helped catalyze the Occupy Wall Street movement in 2011, co-founded the outlet Popular Resistance, and led a month-long sit-in at the Venezualan Embassy in Washington, D.C., last year in opposition to the Trump administration’s support for a coup that would benefit Exxon Mobil.
Last week, The Real News Network spoke with Dr. Flowers over the phone about her partner’s legacy.
“Within his lifetime he saw the fruits of his work,” Flowers said. “When Kevin was working for NORML, he was getting death threats. Back then, you weren’t allowed to talk about decriminalization. Now we see legalization in so many states, and people are starting to get out of prison for marijuana.”
Flowers told The Real News that Zeese spent the days before his death working around the clock. The pair were creating a webinar to discuss the ongoing hearing to extradite Julian Assange and its implications for the future of press freedom in the U.S.
Flowers returned to work on the event just days after her partner’s death, saying the issue is too pivotal to delay discussion.
“I’m not at 100% but I’m doing what I can,” she explained. “The Assange case could establish the loss of freedom of the press, and that could really be a turning point in the 21st century. “Julian is from Australia. He is not a U.S. citizen, but the U.S. is able to go after him, to bring him here, to put him in prison for the rest of his life. What does that say about what happens to you if you go after an empire?”
Just three days before his death, Zeese worked with the Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition (BACC) to coordinate direct action to stop the demolition of their historic burial ground. Dr. Coleman-Adebeyo, editor of the Black Agenda Report, recently paid tribute to Zeese: “After this shock and all of the pain, what I will remember is Kevin’s voice last Friday, his patience, and the calm demeanor he carried with him in the heat of our struggle to save Moses African Cemetery, in the heat of the road in Bethesda on a hot September day when he stood and reasoned with the police who had arrayed themselves again against our non-violent protests, as though we were the ones threatening violence, as though we were the ones hurling invective, curses, and threats. There, at the side of River Road, stood Kevin Zeese, nodding, listening, offering alternatives, presenting our case that resulted in no arrests.”
Many of Zeese’s friends and colleagues have shared their own stories, remembering him as a reassuring and inspiring presence when direct action became dangerous—something Flowers told the Real News, as well:.
“So many people said to me that when they saw Kevin at an event, they knew they would be safe, they knew they were in the right place to be.”
Writer Max Blumenthal recorded a tribute video where he recounted working with Zeese to sneak food supplies past counterprotesters during their 2019 sit-in at the Venezulan Embassy. During the month-long protest, they had to ration food as groups aligned with Donald Trump and Venezuelan opposition leader and self-declared president Juan Guaidó physically blocked supplies from entering the embassy building.
“I had a 50 pound bag of beans, which were essential,” Blumenthal said. “I threw it to him, and watched him look in astonishment as it landed at his feet, then he laughed mischievously, knowing that we had defeated Guiadó’s gang and that the embassy would last another day.”
Flowers says that her partner was driven by a keen awareness of how fleeting a lifetime can be, and that he placed his hope for a more just world in youth activists.
“He was always pushing people to be the ones that are out there speaking. I’ve been getting all of these emails from younger people who say that he made them feel like their voices mattered,” Flowers said. “We talked about how we couldn’t fix everything in our lifetime, but we do what we can in our lifetime. We talked about that next wave of power that was going to come behind us, in the next generation.”
A virtual memorial service will be held for Kevin Zeese on September 19.
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