Archive - Apr 20, 2009

• Supreme Court considers education resources for ESL students
• Low income renters get boost in  Congress
• National Marijuana Forum opens today in Boulder
• Workers in Baltimore organize
• Obama administration decides not to attend conference to eliminate racism
• A new plan for offshore drilling

• Human Rights Watch report: Hamas assassinated opposition members
• CIA Torture Memos: Detainees water boarded more than previously reported
• Demonstrators in DC call for end to genocide
• Extremely low voter turn out in Haiti
• Nicaragua’s President Ortega at Summit of the Americas
• 10 years since Columbine

The Supreme Court will hear four civil rights cases in the next two weeks. The outcome of the court’s decisions on these cases could alter the interpretation of the nation’s civil rights laws when it comes to employment, education, voting rights and lending practices. Today, the high court heard a case that considers whether the state of Arizona has provided adequate resources to English as second language students in public schools.  FSRN’s Leigh Ann Caldwell reports from Washington.

Low-income housing advocates are trying to shift the focus from home ownership to renting. They say tenants shouldn’t be kicked out of their homes when their landlords can’t keep up with mortgage payments. Their champions in Congress are trying to do something about it. Tanya Snyder reports.

Thousands of people made their way to Boulder, Colorado today, for the National Marijuana Forum, which seeks to bring experts together to talk about reforming the country’s broken drug laws. The event takes place at The University of Colorado, and speakers are addressing issues ranging from the benefits of using hemp for making fabrics, to using marijuana as medicine. Recreational users at the event and around the nation are also “celebrating” at 4:20 today. Aura Bogado speaks with Brian Vicente, Executive Director of Sensible Colorado.

Low wage workers in Baltimore launched a new phase of an economic human rights campaign, targeting the restaurant industry in the inner harbor. Led by the United Workers, the campaign seeks to win rights to education, living wage jobs, and health care, as well as dignity and respect. Andalusia Knoll reports from Baltimore.

The Durban Review Conference is taking place in Geneva this week to provide an international platform for addressing the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerances. The conference is a follow-up to the 2001 World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa, and this year’s gathering will focus on reviewing progress on a plan of action. The Obama Administration confirmed this weekend that it would not attend the conference. In the first of a 3-part series on the conference, FSRN’s Sacajawea Hall reports on the Obama Administration’s decision, and how racial justice activists are responding.