Democratic Rights in the US
Obama cowers before religious right on contraceptives
By Tom Carter, February 9, 2012
Once again, the Obama administration is demonstrating its lack of commitment to core democratic principles on the critical issue of separation of church and state.
Mother of Richard O’Dwyer: “America is trying to control and police the Internet”
By our reporters, February 7, 2012
An interview with Julia O’Dwyer, whose son Richard, a 23-year-old computer science student at Sheffield Hallam University, faces extradition to the US on copyright infringement charges.
New York Mayor Bloomberg backs police commissioner in uproar over anti-Muslim film
By Ali Ismail, January 30, 2012
Muslim civil rights advocates and other civil liberties supporters denounced New York Mayor Bloomberg and police commissioner Kelly over an Islamophobic film shown to 1,500 police officers.
Hundreds arrested in police crackdown on Oakland protests
By Jack Hood, January 30, 2012
Police in Oakland, California used rubber bullets, flash bangs, smoke grenades, bean bag guns, batons and tear gas to suppress the demonstrations. At least one person was hospitalized with serious injuries.
Connecticut police charged with brutalizing Hispanics
By Peter Daniels, January 26, 2012
Police abuse in the Connecticut city of East Haven reflects growing social tensions and threats to civil liberties.
New Zealand judge defers bail decision on Megaupload arrests
By John Braddock, January 24, 2012
As part of a global campaign by the US government, the Megaupload associates face extradition proceedings on copyright charges.
Anti-democratic actions by the US Supreme Court
By Tom Carter, January 24, 2012
Recent Supreme Court opinions involving religion, voting rights and warrantless surveillance cast a shadow over existing democratic legal protections.
SOPA, PIPA and the freedom of the Internet
By Andre Damon, January 19, 2012
Millions of people signed online petitions Wednesday against internet censorship bills being discussed in the US Congress.
Proposed Chicago anti-protest laws to be permanent
By Alexander Fangmann, January 9, 2012
Democratic Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel claimed that he “misspoke” when he previously said that authoritarian ordinances to be enacted for the NATO and G-8 protests would be “temporary” and “one-time only.”
The scaffolding of an American police state
By Bill Van Auken, January 6, 2012
In signing the National Defense Authorization Act, allowing for indefinite military detention without charges or trials, Obama has forged his enduring legacy as the president who codified into law the steady march towards police state dictatorship.
Texas police kill 15-year old student at school
By John Burton, January 5, 2012
Police officers shot dead a middle school student in Brownsville, Texas Wednesday morning after he was reported to have a gun.
US appeals court dismisses suits against telecom firms over warrantless wiretapping
By Tom Carter, January 3, 2012
The Ninth Circuit decision further entrenches the NSA domestic spying program and represents a radical assault on the long-standing framework of democratic rights in the US.
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