Category: Uncategorized

Common Dreams | Nadia Prupis
In the wake of Thursday’s federal court ruling that the U.S. National Security Agency’s mass data collection program is illegal, officials in Congress have been left at odds over surveillance reform.
In the remaining six days of the legislative session, some Senate Republicans are rushing to find a short-term solution to keep the program in operation until it comes to the floor for a vote—one which is unlikely to pass in light of the court ruling. The government previously held that Section 215 of the Patriot Act, set to expire on June 1, justified the NSA’s mass …read more

Kaafi’s lifeless arm can be seen lying on the ground behind the cruiser at the jail.
Sarasota, Florida – A 33-year-old man died in police custody this week after being hit with a taser during an arrest. During the arrest, victim John Kaafi reportedly told the officers on the scene that he had medical problems, including asthma.
Police say that he “resisted” and attempted to get away, but no evidence has been presented to verify their version of events; nor has it been confirmed by any other witnesses. According to police, Kaafi escaped from the police car window at one point.
After they …read more

There’s a note to Safari browser users in the P.S.
A recent court decision vindicates Edward Snowden.
That’s why I told Congress to pressure the President to pardon Snowden using DownsizeDC.org’s campaign for that purpose.

Please do the same. You may borrow from or copy this letter…
Remember…

The NSA ran a top-secret program that collected our phone data.

Its “justification” was an ABSURD “secret interpretation” of Section 215 of the Patriot Act.

In June 2013, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden leaked this program to the press.

In response, the ACLU challenged it in federal court.

On May 7, …read more

New York, NY– A seven-second long video uploaded to YouTube on Saturday morning captured a man asserting his rights, and an officer actually respecting those rights, even as the man called him a scumbag.
This just may be the fastest we have ever seen a cop get shut down.

“Sir, what do you got in your bag?” An officer asks.
“None of your f*cking business, that’s what I’ve got in the bag.” The man asserts as he films the encounter.
“Alright,” the officer concedes, as he begins to walk away.
“Honor your oath scumbag!” The man filming throws in for good measure.
As awesome as it …read more

As reported earlier, Flint, Michigan, is having a mayoral election this summer, but currently none of the four candidates’ names will be on the ballot. According to this story, state legislators who represent Flint, including the minority leader in the State Senate, are working to write a bill that would ease the problem. At the very end of the story, the article says the Secretary of State is aware of the effort, and does not plan to take a position on the proposed legislation. …read more

On May 8, the Ninth Circuit ruled that a resident of Guam is entitled to get a ruling on whether a particular Guam election law is unconstitutional. Guam law says residents who are descended from someone who was living in Guam in 1898 are entitled to register to vote in a special election on the future political status of Guam. The future election will ask eligible voters if Guam should become independent, join a compact of free association with the United States, or apply for statehood.
The plaintiff is not descended from someone who was living in Guam in …read more

Gwinnett County, GA — A 9-1-1 call for help tragically ended after police gunned down the man in need of assistance.
Officers were responding to a 9-1-1 about 72-year-old Joseph Roy. Roy’s neighbor placed the call and said Roy was suicidal.
Minutes after arriving, Gwinnett County police officers opened fire on Roy, a cancer patient who had been barricaded in his bathroom. He was hit twice and died.
According to Sherry Lang with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, “The subject opened the door, and started yelling threats at the officers and then charged the officers with a knife.”
He was armed with a steak …read more

Dover, Deleware – Officer Thomas Webster of the Dover Police Department was finally indicted for kicking a man in the face back in August of 2013. The attack was captured on the dash camera on another officer’s car, which showed victim Latif Dickerson get kicked in the face by Webster as he was complying with the officer’s orders.
Dover Police Lt. Jason Pires said that the department chose to release the video immediately after the indictment to “control the narrative.”
“We released the video because the judge considered it no longer to be confidential. We’re a very transparent police department, and we …read more

Mhairi Black, a 20-year-old student, has been elected to the British House of Commons. She is the Scottish National Party nominee. See this story, which says she is the youngest member since 1667. …read more

The Prohibition Party has cancelled its national convention, which had been set for June 2015 in Helen, Georgia. Instead the party will chose a presidential candidate by conference call in July 2015. “Member” is someone who had contributed to the party no later than May 5, 2015.
In 2004 the Reform Party also held a telephone conference call to choose a presidential nominee. Ralph Nader received the nomination. Later the party held an in-person meeting because of fears that the first national convention would not be considered valid by Florida election officials. …read more