Democratic Rights in the US
FBI raids home over use of Twitter at G20 summit
By Ali Ismail, October 16, 2009
In a chilling attack on freedom of speech, the FBI raided the home of a New Yorker arrested for using the social-networking service Twitter to pass information between protesters at the G20 summit in ...
Police attack protesters at G20 summit in Pittsburgh
By Joe Kishore, September 26, 2009
Over 80 have been arrested, and police have deployed batons, sound cannons, rubber bullets and OC gas to attack demonstrators.
Massive police buildup for Pittsburgh G20 summit
By Samuel Davidson, September 24, 2009
A massive police buildup is well underway in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as thousands of police, National Guard, FBI, secret service and other law enforcement officials flood into the city in preparatio...
Obama administration to seek extension of Patriot Act spy powers
By Patrick Martin, September 17, 2009
In a letter from the Justice Department to the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Obama administration has gone on record for the first time supporting the extension of key provisions the USA Patriot Act...
Obama formalizes Bush policy on digital searches and seizures
By Tom Eley, September 1, 2009
The Obama administration last week formalized a Bush administration policy that allows US border agents to seize and search the laptops and other digital effects of international travelers.
Report exposes abuse at New York youth prisons
By Peter Daniels, August 31, 2009
Youth housed in New York State’s prisons for youthful offenders have been the victims of systematic physical and mental abuse, according to a Justice Department report.
Obama, rendition, and the decay of American democracy
By Tom Eley, August 26, 2009
The Obama administration’s decision to carry on the practice of rendition testifies to the profound decay of American democracy.
Internal CIA report shows agents tortured, killed prisoners
By Tom Eley, August 25, 2009
A CIA inspector general’s report discussing instances of agency torture, suppressed since 2004, was made public by court order on Monday. The same day, the Obama administration revealed it intends t...
US Supreme Court orders new hearing for Georgia death row inmate
By Kate Randall, August 21, 2009
The US Supreme Court on Monday ordered a federal trial court to consider the case of Georgia death row prisoner Troy Davis.
New evidence shows Bush White House orchestrated purge of US attorneys
By Tom Eley, August 14, 2009
Karl Rove and other senior Bush White House officials orchestrated the firing of nine US attorneys in 2006, recently disclosed congressional testimony and e-mail communications show.
Obama’s Abu Ghraib solution
By Bill Van Auken, August 13, 2009
Attorney General Holder has reportedly determined that only so-called rogue interrogators who went beyond the criminal methods approved by the Justice Department will be investigated for the systemati...
Strange case of North Carolina “jihadists” used to heighten terror scare
By Bill Van Auken, July 31, 2009
In the wake of this week’s arrest of seven North Carolina men labeled as “jihadists” in a federal conspiracy case, the Obama administration has sought to heighten fears of “homegrown terrorism...
