AlterNet.org: Rights and Liberties

Claim: CIA Sent Prisoners Abroad to Be Boiled Alive and 'Raped with Broken Bottles'

Daniel Tencer, Raw Story — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

Former British ambassador alleges CIA relied on intelligence based on torture in prisons in Uzbekistan.

"My Kids Want to Hide Their Identity; They're Scared Someone Will Attack Us": U.S. Muslims Being Targeted

Jaisal Noor, Indypendent — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

American Muslims, especially those who wear religious clothing such as hijabs, are often targets of hate crimes.

NYC Marathon Raises Question of Who Is American Enough?

James E. Johnson, Jr., Imagine 2050 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:01 PST

Who gets to choose who is American or American enough? And how will they choose?

23 CIA Agents Convicted in Italy for Kidnapping Egyptian Cleric

Gina Doggett, Agence France Presse — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:00:01 PST

The CIA's Milan station chief at the time, Robert Seldon Lady, was sentenced to eight years in prison and othersto five years, all in their absence in the landmark trial.

The Execution of a Potentially Innocent Man Less Scandalous Than an Affair?

Michelle Goldberg, The American Prospect — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

There's something really rotten in the state of Texas.

Ten Things You Can Do to Reduce Incarceration

Walter Mosley, Rae Gomes, The Nation — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:00:01 PST

Come out of the closet about your drug use; hire a formerly incarcerated person; vote for politicians who are smart on crime.

Six Uighurs Released From Gitmo; Seven Remain Locked Up

Andy Worthington, Andy Worthington's Blog — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:00:01 PST

This latest release still leaves seven Uighurs in GuantÃ¡namo -- not to mention the 60 or so other prisoners who have been cleared for release

Deported to a "Homeland" that He Never Knew

Julianne Ong Hing, ColorLines — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

After growing up in the U.S., Calvin James was separated from his family by and sent by immigration authorities to an alien "homeland."

Boss Tells Latino Workers to Ditch Spanish Names -- in What World Is this Guy Living?

Pilar Marrero, New America Media — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:01 PDT

According to Larry Whitman, employees who work in reception or answer phones should have names that people generally can understand or can pronounce.

16-Year Old Got Life Without Parole for Killing Her Abusive Pimp -- Should Teens Be Condemned to Die in Jail?

Liliana Segura, AlterNet — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:01 PDT

Two cases in the Supreme Court could alter the fates of over 2,500 people serving life without parole for crimes they committed as teenagers.

How Our Broken Immigration System Hurts Both Immigrant and Native-Born Workers

Tyler Moran, Immigration Impact — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:01 PDT

The real answer to â€œenforcementâ€ at the worksite is making sure all workers can exercise their labor rights and upholding our employment laws

How a Racist Judge Inadvertently Made the Case for Gay Marriage

Madison Shockley, Truthdig — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:01 PDT

A bigoted justice of the peace in the backwoods of Louisiana accidentally got to the heart of the issue around a key argument in California's gay marriage debate.

How Could It Be Against the Law to Spread Public Information?

Charles Mostoller, AlterNet — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:01 PDT

An activist shared on Twitter what he heard on his police scanner, and now faces serious federal investigation.

New Online Computer Game Exploits Right-Wing Paranoia

David Corn, Mother Jones — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:01 PDT

Glenn Beck mysteriously killed. The GOP driven out of Congress. Obama proclaims himself the "Lost Imam." And more.

Pot Is More Mainstream Than Ever, So Why Is Legalization Still Taboo?

Steven Wishnia, AlterNet — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:01 PDT

Obama's drug czar has said "legalization" isn't in his vocabulary. Here's why it should be.

CIA Kept Prisoners Alive to Keep Torturing Them, Lawyer Says

Muriel Kane, Raw Story — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:00:01 PDT

Human rights lawyer John Sifton says the CIA tried to prevent detainees from dying, "which might sound humanitarian, but was kind of sickening."

There's No Hope for Afghanistan If Women Aren't Involved

Ann Jones, The Nation — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:00:01 PDT

What happens to women in Afghanistan is not merely a "women's issue." It is the central issue of stability, development and durable peace.

How a Dysfunctional Immigration System Keeps Hard-Working Families Apart

Meredith Higashi, Ronald Lee, Immigration Impact — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:01 PDT

Those who say the status quo works just don't grasp how damaging it is to the families it tears apart.

Tea Party Movement Returns, This Time with Much More Dangerous and Explicit Rhetoric

Frank Schaeffer, AlterNet — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:00:01 PDT

It's not too hard to guess where talk of 'Judgement Day' can lead to in the context of a right-wing, gun-loving movement.

Busted for Handing Out Clean Needles? Courageous Activists Pushed for Safe Access Despite Jail Time Risks

Phillip S. Smith, Drug War Chronicle — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:00:01 PDT

Two passionate drug reformers are looking at serious jail time for trying to save lives.