Justice

The Saudi Arabian government has issued a series of 1,000 public lashings and 10 years in prison to an activist blogger Raif Badawi for insulting Islam. U.S. State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki requested an end to this punishment, but it does not look like Saudi authorities will end this brutality.

During Gov. Peter Shumlin’s recent inaugural address, protesters took part in a sit-in desiring single-payer healthcare, which the governor had promised to create. Those participating in the sit-in were arrested on spot.

The new Congress decided that its first order of business was to go after the disabled. Republican Congress is holding disabled workers hostage in order to extract concessions on these programs.

Having American troops occupy Iraq for 8 years, humiliating its citizens and torturing people in military prisons, was a bad idea. Did Bush and Cheney model for the Kouashi brothers how you take what you want and rub out people who get in your way?

It's not only in the U.S. that these combat weapons—that is, arms developed for use on the battlefield—are being used against innocent, defenseless civilians. Shame, shame, shame.

Senator Feinstein sent a letter to President Obama with her recommendations to prevent the CIA from committing acts of torture. But are her good intentions enough prevent the CIA from committing further human rights violations?

This week is the 13th anniversary of the first post-9/11 prisoners arriving at Guantanamo Bay. This has people wondering: is it time to put an end to this dark chapter of U.S. history, close the prison and return the land to Cuba?

There is indeed terrorism raging throughout large parts of the Ogaden and elsewhere in the country; it is State Terrorism perpetrated by a brutal regime that is guilty of widespread criminality, much of which constitutes crimes against humanity.

If progressives can't gain ground during today's hard times, full of disasters at home and abroad, then when? If progressives don't gain when the right lurches between disgrace and farce, gloating with lies that scandalize reality, then when? Bright spots surface, but what notable change, especially on income distribution, speaks to unified progressive activism?

Charlie Hebdo has repeatedly claimed it publishes the cartoons as a defender of free expression and against religious extremism. This was the worst of its kind in terms of attacks on journalists in Europe.