Headlines for Thursday, May 7, 2009

Maryland becomes first state to make attacks on homeless a hate crime
Maryland has become the first state in the US to make attacks targeting homeless people a hate crime.  The state’s governor, Martin O’Malley signed the bill into law today.  Michael O’Neill, director of the Faces of Homelessness Speakers Bureau, says many oppose this sort of legislation.  Their argument being, because homelessness is a choice, the addition of the group would water down current hate crimes legislation, which traditionally target people who have no control over their minority status.  But, he says, the numbers speak to the need.

“From 99 to 2007 there have been 774 documented attacks in this country and 217 deaths.  Hopefully with MD doing it, other states will follow suit.”

O’Neill says California, Ohio, Texas and Massachusetts are all considering similar legislation.  Advocacy groups are also pushing for change on the federal level.

Activist support striking ICE detainees at the Port Isabel Detention Center
Activists in Brownsville, Texas today held a vigil in solidarity with detainees at the Port Isabel Detention Center.  There, inmates have been on hunger strike for nearly two weeks in protest of the conditions at the facility.  Free Speech Radio News reporter Ansel Herz has an update.

Initially Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials denied that any detainees were on hunger strike, but family members and activists have since confirmed to FSRN up to two hundred people are participating.  Now ICE acknowledges at least one detainee is striking.   Anayanse Garza of the Southwest Workers Union says the detainees are now taking turns on hunger strike in order to maintain their health.

Activists met with local Congressmen earlier this week to make them aware of the situation at the facility, and they say they are preparing a National Day of Action in solidarity with the detainees on hunger strike.  Ansel Herz, FSRN, Austin.

Capital Punishment appeal fails in Colorado
In the waning hours of the Colorado Legislative session, lawmakers could not muster enough votes to repeal the death penalty.  From Denver, FSRN’s Nikki Kayser reports.

Ultimately the measure to eliminate the death penalty failed by one vote in the Senate.  Capital punishment opponents were hopeful because of the unique approach taken in the legislation.  It sought to redirect funds for capital cases to the investigation of cold cases. Abe Bonowitz is with the National Coalition to Abolish The Death Penalty:

Four Colorado Senate Democrats joined Republicans to defeat the bill.  District attorneys opposed the legislation citing a need for plea bargain material, and said life in prison is not a sufficient deterrent. Supporters of abolition, including families of murder victims, the Catholic Church, and public defenders, say they will propose the bill again next year.   Nikki Kayser.  FSRN.  Denver.

Justice Department declines to pursue Lt. Ehren Watada war resister case
The US Department of Justice has decided not to pursue a second court marshal trial for Lt. Ehren Watada, the first US military officer to refuse to serve in Iraq. FSRN’s Mark Taylor-Canfield has more from Seattle.

The Department of Justice has asked the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to dismiss their appeal of a lower court ruling, which blocked a second court marshal trial for 1st Lt. Ehren Watada.  In June 2006, Lt. Watada refused to serve in Iraq on the grounds that the US invasion was both illegal and immoral. His court marshal was declared a mistrial in February 2007.  A civilian US federal judge blocked the Army's attempt to hold a second court marshal in October of 2007, ruling that a second trial would qualify as double jeopardy. According to the US Constitution, a person cannot be tried twice on the same charges.  Although Lt. Watada's period of enlistment was up two years ago, he is still virtually confined to the US Army base at Ft. Lewis, Washington where he is stationed. Watada has not been allowed to leave military service, and the US Army has barred him from communicating with anti-war groups.  Despite the Department of Justice's decision not to appeal the earlier civilian court ruling, the US Army is still considering prosecution of Lt. Watada on two charges of "behavior unbecoming an officer" because of an anti-war speech he gave to the Veterans For Peace national conference in Seattle in 2006.  This is Mark Taylor-Canfield in Seattle for Free Speech Radio News.

Trouble continues in Pakistan and Afghanistan
As President Obama continues to meet with Pakistani and Afghan leaders in Washington, the situation in both countries is rapidly deteriorating.  In southern Afghanistan today a suicide bomber targeting foreign troops killed 12 civilians and injured over 30 more.  In addition, fall-out continues from US air strikes this week, which killed nearly 100 civilians.  In response, residents have staged protests.  Today police opened fire on a group of demonstrators, injuring 6.  US and Afghan authorities are currently investigating the air strikes.

In Pakistan, the government said today it will end the peace deal with the Taliban and step up its military operations against the militant group.  The government says it currently has over 10-thousand troops in the Swat Valley.  The relief agency Doctors Without Borders said today it has halted emergency medical work in Swat because of the extreme insecurity and incidents targeting the group’s aid workers.  The organization claims hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis are currently seeking refuge.

China finally releases student death toll from last May’s earthquake
China says more than 5000 school children died in last year’s major earthquake in Sichuan province.  The announcement comes almost a full year after the anniversary.  Many parents of the dead blame corruption and poor school construction for the classroom collapses that trapped and killed so many students.