Civil Rights // Current

Students Shut Down UCLA

Yesterday and today, thousands of students effectively shut down the UCLA campus in... more

JonRaymond
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"That is not a justice system," Rep. Nadler

The role of military commissions in adjudicating the cases of suspected terrorist... more

sespian
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An Arkansas 10-year-old says he won't pledge to the flag until gays and lesbians have equal rights

~y2009m11d17-An-Arkansas-10yearold-says-he-wont-pledge-to-the-flag-until-gays-and-lesbi... more

uroborus8
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Jet Blue Vs. Civil Liberties

Once again, the united states is starting to feel more and more like a police state.... more

AlGores_Uncle
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Catholic Church gives D.C. ultimatum

The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington said Wednesday that it will be unable to... more

SleepDirt
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9 days ago
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129 comments

Gay Leaders Partly Blame Obama for Loss in Maine

National gay rights leaders are blaming scare-mongering ads – and President Barack... more

The_Global_Report
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9 days ago
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Genocide by Wilkine Brutus

Genocide performed in the renowned Ronnie Scotts in London.

wilkinebrutus
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13 days ago
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Domestic Workers United and Allies Urge Legislators to Pass Bill of Rights

On Nov. 4th 2009, on the steps of City Hall members of Domestic Workers United City... more

peoplesmovement
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13 days ago
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Student Rights

Press Pass TV examines the importance of individuals knowing their rights from an... more

presspass
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Outrage Over Gay Bar Raids

Two recent police raids of gay bars in Atlanta, Georgia and Fort Worth, Texas have... more

The_Global_Report
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16 days ago
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LGBT community worried about haters winning in Maine

Daniel_Leyva
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Tight pants banned women in Indonesian Religous district

NO...Your Moving Backwards JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- Muslim women would be banned... more

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ARE MEN TREATED EQUALLY?

Some else a female actually recognized the fact that men aren't treated equally....... more

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The Poverty of Philosophy- Imortal technique- The philosophy of poverty

Felipe Andres Coronel (born February 19, 1978), better known by the stage name... more

ksutherland27
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Philosophy of poverty

This man Felipe Andres Coronel or Immortal Technique is the kind of artist we need to... more

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FOX NEWS STARTED IT

this video taken from media matters an unbiased organization that i feel serves as a... more

ksutherland27
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Dallas police chief: Dozens of tickets issued for not speaking English | Dallas, Texas |

By SCOTT GOLDSTEIN / The Dallas Morning News sgoldstein@dallasnews.com Editor's... more

kingfugazi
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Pittsburgh police, G-20 arrests, and the US Constitution

We must punish police who violate the constitution.

patomalley
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SEE

SEE is a short documentary that presents the growing phenomenon of surveillance... more

ApostolosGaitanis
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Groups Laud Major Legislation To Improve the Criminal Justice System

New York; (October 21,2009) Joined by Civil Rights advocates, Sen. Eric T. Scheneiderman (D-Manhattan/Bronx) and Assm. Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) today unveiled legislation to help exornerate innocent people who are wrongfully convicted in cases that lack DNA evidence. The "Actual Innocence Act of 2009" establishes "actual innocence" as a lawful basis for vacating a prior conviction and removes certain roadblocks that can prevent the wrongfully convicted from presenting proof that conclusively establishes their innocence.

"New York is behind the curve when it comes to giving the courts an opportunity to reverse wrongful convictions in non-DNA cases. Experts have proven that DNA exonerations represent only a small fraction of all wrongful convictions, that's why innocence claims must be fully and fairly aired," said sponsor Sen. Eric T. Scheiderman, Chair of the Senate Codes Committee and member of Chief Justice Lippman's task force on wrongful convictions. "This 'actual inocence' legislation is about justice and fairness - it ensures that innocent people don't spend decades behind bars while the real criminals go free."

For wrongfully convicted individuals in these non-DNA cases - even when new evidence comes to light - New York State law offers only limited hope for relief by establishing procedural obstacles that can deprive them of having an innocence claim thoroughly heard. The tragic result - as demonstrated in hundreds of DNA exoneration cases throughout the country - is that an innocent person can spend years in jail while the real perpetrator is free to commit more crimes and terrorize countless victims.

"In many cases, those convicted of serious crimes do not have access to attorneys with the experience and expertise to help prove their innocence. This legislation levels the playing field and will ensure that in non-DNA cases, the wrongfully convicted will have a greater opportunity to prove that they were actually innocent," said Assm. Hakeem Jeffries, the bill's Assembly sponsor.

The Scheiderman/Jeffries bill (S.6234) creates a freestanding ground of "actual innocence" upon which a criminal court could grant a post-conviction motion to vacate its prior judgement of conviction. The motion can be granted only where a defendent is able to present "reliable and relevant" proof that "conclusively establishes" the defendant's actual innocence of the crime os which he or she was convicted.

To ensure that a defendent cannot benefit from prior inaction or delay aimed at "gaming" the system, the bill would specifically permit the court to deny relief where it determines that the defendent's failure to act was intentional.

"Prolonged and unnecessary incarceration of the innocent is detrimental to all - the wrongfully incarcerated, society, the criminal justice system and the victim. I can only hope that the proposed legislation ensures the others wrongly incarcerated like me, never have to suffer like I did in securing their freedom through the criminal justice system," said Marty Tankleff, who was wrongfully convicted for murder of his parents based on false confession.

"New York State's criminal justice system, like many other states,' has too often stressed the 'criminal' more than the 'justice,' sometimes resulting in innocent people being convicted and incarcerated. But, new tools are available to prove the innocence of the wrongly convicted, and I am proud to co-sponsor this legislation which will make them more fully available in New York State," said Sen. Velmanette Montgomery (D-Manhattan). "If the bill provides for the exoneration of just one person it will be worth it."New York; (October 21,2009) Joined by Civil Rights advocates, Sen. Eric T.... more

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tagged w/ Civil Rights

Students Shut Down UCLA

"That is not a justice system," Rep. Nadler

An Arkansas 10-year-old says he won't pledge to the flag until gays and lesbians have equal rights

Jet Blue Vs. Civil Liberties

Catholic Church gives D.C. ultimatum

Gay Leaders Partly Blame Obama for Loss in Maine

Genocide by Wilkine Brutus

Domestic Workers United and Allies Urge Legislators to Pass Bill of Rights

Student Rights

Outrage Over Gay Bar Raids

LGBT community worried about haters winning in Maine

Tight pants banned women in Indonesian Religous district

ARE MEN TREATED EQUALLY?

The Poverty of Philosophy- Imortal technique- The philosophy of poverty

Philosophy of poverty

FOX NEWS STARTED IT

Dallas police chief: Dozens of tickets issued for not speaking English | Dallas, Texas |

Pittsburgh police, G-20 arrests, and the US Constitution

SEE

Groups Laud Major Legislation To Improve the Criminal Justice System

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