Mark your calendars and join the online discussion with Workers Uniting and speakers from the UK, US and Canadian trade union and civil rights movements on union responses to the importance of Black Lives Matter. Speakers include USW International Vice Presidents Fred Redmond and Roxanne Brown and USW Canada’s Equality Rights Representative Kai Lai. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIpd-qqqzksH9zM65qrUAcEzuCsFp2B35ck #USWUnity

Sanctions Kill, Especially During a Pandemic

July 14th marks the 5th anniversary of the Iran-EU-US nuclear agreement that was to pave the way for lessening economic sanctions against Iran. But Trump nixed that agreement and imposed more sanctions that, during a pandemic, make supplies urgently needed to protect public safety more expensive and often impossible for Iran to obtain.

People in a host of countries – Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea, Palestine, Yemen and more – suffer as their economies crumble under the effects of US sanctions imposed by politicians of both parties. Lack of essential food and medicines mean people die.

In Iran, for example, the U.S. continues to uphold sanctions that have caused a deep recession in that country. As a result of U.S. policies, Iran no longer has the means to purchase medical, pharmaceutical or hospital equipment.

U.S sanctions on Venezuela have resulted in 40,000 deaths. Importation of needed health care resources and supplies have been blocked by the U.S. in an attempt at regime change.

The U.S./Saudi blockade has starved 87,000 Yemeni children during a three year civil war. Even before the pandemic, Yemen was suffering from a severe cholera outbreak due to bombing of water treatment facilities. Yemen continues to battle COVID with the highest death rate in the world.

In the West Bank, a new wave of the virus, even stronger than the first wave, is striking Palestine. Israeli military operations in the West Bank—including raids, home demolitions, arrests, detention, and land confiscation—have continued, exposing the affected Palestinians to a greater risk of infection. The Gaza strip, blockaded by the Israelis, is potentially vulnerable to COVID-19 since people living there have a low level of health access and are trapped in one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

In these countries and others throughout the world, lethal U.S. sanctions are causing misery and pain. They are morally untenable. Join us in standing against U.S. sanctions.

#SanctionsKill #HandsOffIran #PeaceWithIran #HandsOffVenezuela #YemenCantWait #YemenCantBreathe #FreePalestine #StopEmbargoes #StopAnnexation

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Event begins at Federal Plaza at 5 pm. for an in-person press conference (Please respect your fellow demonstrators by wearing a mask and, where possible, social distancing.)

*Car-a-van – Those wishing to participate via car caravan are asked to line up in front of Grace Place, 637 S. Dearborn, at 4:20 PM. Bedeck your car with lots of signs on both sides. Express your outrage and your creativity! (Route details will be provided onsite)

Americans with Disabilities Act 30th Anniversary March Against Hate

July 26, 2020 marks the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This critical civil rights law prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. Join us for an accessible march to continue discussion within our community on Black Lives Matter, racial injustices, systemic racism, and police reform.

We will be creating a mural from 11 am – 2 pm. No art experience needed! Let your creative mind flow and paint your thoughts on the Past, Present, and Future of Black Lives Matter and our community. Sign making supplies will also be available.

From 2-5 pm we will participate in a 3 mile round trip march. The art build will be fully accessible for all to participate. The march route will be flat, with many planned stops for discussion, speakers, rest, and conversation.

Sight guides and American Sign Language interpreters will be present as well as a Disability Support Team and medics. Assistive mobility devices may be available for use during the march. Please reach out to the organizers with any request for accommodations.

Masks are STRONGLY encouraged and maintaining 6 feet of distance is requested by the organizers. Masks will be available for those who need.

https://www.prisonradio.org/media/audio/mumia/children-corn-416-mumia-abu-jamal

https://www.prisonradio.org/media/audio/mumia/america-rogue-nation-235-mumia-abu-jamal

On July 13, 2020, the AFT and several other unions filed an amicus brief asking for an injunction blocking ICE’s unfair new guidelines targeting international students. You can read the brief here: https://sites.google.com/view/labor-amicus-brief/home

Union staff and activists from around the country will discuss what the new ICE guidance means for international student workers, what is happening with the legal challenge, and what else we can do together to push back against these xenophobic policies on a webinar: Tuesday, July 14, 4:00-5:30 ET. Register Here.

July 13, 2020 Milwaukee County Courthouse, Milwaukee, WI

Photos: Wisconsin Bail Out The People Movement

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FROM JOE BRUSKY:

George Floyd’s Attorney Benjamin Crump joined the Acevedo Family along with their attorney B’Ivory LaMarr at today’s Justice For Joel rally and march in Milwaukee. The MPD officer who Placed Joel in a chokehold for ten minutes killing him, made a court appearance while Voces de la Frontera organized a rally outside the courthouse followed by a march to a newly pained mural in memory of Joel. The Acevedo Family is demanding videos be released from the first several MPD officers who arrived on the scene the night Joel was murdered along with the 911 audio.