82 human rights and faith groups, including Media Alliance, wrote to object to Trump Administration plans to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group.
The letter states “Designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization could lead to a witch-hunt against Muslim civil society in the U.S. It could also open the door to the threat of legal action by the government against Muslims and civil society organizations by invoking overbroad and unfair laws and executive orders regarding designated entities. For example, individuals could
be criminally prosecuted for providing support, services, resources, expert advice or assistance to the Muslim Brotherhood without any intent to support terrorist activity. A designation could also result in unconstitutional asset seizures and effective shut-downs of civil society and rights groups”. Continue reading Civil Rights Groups Oppose Terrorism Designation for Muslim Brotherhood→
Statement from Media Action Grassroots Network MAG–Net.org
Oakland, California — A recent article in the Wall Street Journal revealed that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering a legally dubious “hybrid” approach to new open Internet rules that would allow some forms of discrimination. Communities of color and low-income families are among the more than 3.7 million people in the United States that have urged the FCC to reclassify broadband as a common carrier, and enforce Title II rules that prevent online censorship and discrimination.
Tracy Rosenberg, Director of MAG–Net Member Media Alliance in Oakland, CA, said, “The courts have already thrown back awkward compromises twice. The third time won’t be the charm. Full reclassification with forbearance is the only proven road to level the playing field on the Internet our communities need”. Continue reading All We Want Is Equal Representation Online→
John Nichols and Robert McChesney have written a widely posted Nation article searching for answers to the current emergencies in the newspaper business. (“The Death and Life of Great American Newspapers”) They recognize the crisis as an opportunity to rethink public media in general and their suggestions for remedy are at least a provocative starter for the needed reassessment and creative activism. They suggest the government pump in $60 billion over the next three years, a pricetag that is similar to, though less than, the handouts to AIG and the US banks.
“Families Unlocking Futures: Solutions to the Crisis in Juvenile Justice” introduces the perspective of families, the parents, and other relatives who are uniquely affected by the systems that can determine the future of their children. Routinely, families are dismissed as spectators, at best, while judges, prosecutors, probation officers, and public defenders determine the fate of young people who enter the juvenile justice system. This report from the Data Center spells out how the professionals who turn the wheels of juvenile systems can learn from the experiences and thoughts of families, and how they can include them as active participants and partners.
The Obama administration has taken a lot of heat recently for declaring war on Fox News, including from Chronicle columnist Debra J. Saunders. And it’s true that you can’t have presidential staffers ducking press inquiries. But media lies and distortions are another ball game entirely. Let’s look at the record: Continue reading Fox News Is No News Outlet→
The Obama administration has taken a lot of heat recently for declaring war on Fox News, including from Chronicle columnist Debra J. Saunders. And it’s true that you can’t have presidential staffers ducking press inquiries. But media lies and distortions are another ball game entirely. Let’s look at the record:
