We must bring human rights home #Ferguson

	We must bring human rights home
	Share for human rights In August, Police Officer Darren Wilson shot unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown to death. Today, a St. Louis County grand jury declined to indict Officer Wilson. The community response leading up to, and likely to follow, the grand jury decision marks a pivotal moment in U.S. history — a moment of passion, frustration, and activism. Officials in Ferguson and throughout the United States must ensure that each individual's human rights — including the right to freely express themselves in the form of peaceful protest — are respected, protected and fulfilled. It's time to bring human rights home. Today, a St. Louis County grand jury declined to indict Police Officer Darren Wilson for the shooting death of Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager, in August. The community response to Mike Brown's death, and the response that is likely still to come, mark a pivotal moment in the human rights movement and in U.S. history. It's a moment of passion, of frustration, and of activism. It's within this moment that officials in Ferguson and throughout the United States must stand up to ensure that each individual's human rights — including the right to freely express themselves in the form of peaceful protest — are respected, protected and fulfilled. That's why Amnesty International’s human rights observer delegation is on the ground in Ferguson today: to monitor the protests and law enforcement’s response. Amnesty is calling upon law enforcement officers to facilitate peaceful protests. We are calling on them to bear in mind their role as partners and protectors of community, seeking to do no harm. We are calling on them to protect peaceful assemblies, even if a small minority tries to turn a peaceful protest into a violent one. That's what human rights looks like. As I write this, I'm making final preparations to head to Ferguson, representing Amnesty’s commitment to protecting the human rights of all people —  including the one pictured in this email. This little boy reminds us that his life, and all lives, matter. While we can't all be in Ferguson in this moment, we can stand in solidarity with those exercising their right to peaceful protest today. As you share this image in support of peaceful protest on Twitter and Facebook, we ask that you remember the human rights of boys like this one. And as law enforcement officers head to work in the coming days, we ask that they do the same. In solidarity, Steven W. Hawkins Executive Director Amnesty International USA
© 2014 Amnesty International USA | 5 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10001 | 212.807.8400

Tune in tonight; Detroit Water Brigade #occupy

Tune in tonight. The city of Detroit is doubling down on its mass water shutoff program, and Occupy veterans in the Detroit Water Brigade are making their Comedy Central debut with a segment on the Daily Show tonight at 11pm EST on Comedy Central. If you’re in Detroit, come out and screen the episode with us starting at 10:00pm at the Anchor Bar, 450 W Fort St, in downtown Detroit. Make sure to RSVP on Facebook here! We think it’s insane that people in suits wake up in the morning thinking about how to shut off the water on poor families, so we’re fighting back: with humor! So come out and drink with us and laugh … so we don’t cry. Solidarity, The Detroit Water Brigade PS - We are bailing out Detroit's poorest water-debtors with a new project called the Water Affordability Fund. Learn more and pitch in here! #DetroitWater #WageLove #Right2Water

Our mailing address is: Detroit Water Brigade 24 Avalon St Highland Park, MI 48203 Add us to your address book

The @WorkingFamilies Party did itself a disservice by endorsing DINO Andrew Cuomo

The Working Families Party in New York did itself a great disservice by endorsing Andrew Cuomo. For the first time in a long time I will not be voting on the Working Families line.

Despite his horrendous, anti-social justice, even pro-Republican, track record, they endorsed him in the Governor's race based on his promise to change his stripes.

He has of course not changed his stripes, already abandoning some of his promises, and indicating that -- once elected -- he is going to backtrack on virtually all of them.

Andrew Cuomo is a Blue Dog Democrat, a Democrat in name only, whose primary modus operandi is to curry favor with large corporations.

He has no connection to progressive values whatsoever.

Andrew Cuomo is no Mario Cuomo. In this case the apple fell very far from the tree.