by the El Reportero’s wire services
Some 120 political detainees left in the National Penitentiary System (SPN) arrived Thursday on their third day with an indefinite hunger strike in protest against the ill-treatment they suffer and for their liberty removed by the political revenge of the repressive regime by Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo in Nicaragua.
The strike was published in a letter sent by the Executive Secretary of the Permanent Commission for Human Rights (CPDH), the Marcos Carmona organization to which the letter was sent.
According to the document, political prisoners refrain from eating solid food since Aug. 28.
“The political prisoners of La Modelo, who live constant threats from this moment, begin an indefinite strike (…) to get our righteous edition”, expressed in the letter.
Political prisoners, whose signatures are included in the letter, reject the ruling against young Brandon Lovo and Glen Slate, accused of the assassination of journalist Ángel Gahona “for a crime they did not commit” and the victim’s family blames the police in the service of the dictatorship.
Human rights commission condemns murder of Brazilian journalist
The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemned the murder of the journalist Marlon de Carvalho Araújo and urges the Brazilian authorities to investigate the possible connection of the crime to the journalistic work of the victim.
According to the information available, the journalist Marlon de Carvalho Araújo was shot to death at his residence in the town of Chapada, a rural area of the city of Riachão of Jacuípe, Bahia, on the morning of Aug. 16.
Bill to increase access to Ethnic Studies moves to governor’s desk
Assemblymember José Medina’s (D-Riverside) bill AB 2772, which increases access to ethnic studies education, was concurred upon on the Assembly Floor on Thursday.
AB 2772 was amended in the Senate to create a pilot program that would allow up to 11 school districts add the completion of a course in ethnic studies to high school graduation requirements through an opt-in grant program, starting in the 2021-22 school year. The original version of the bill would have required high schools students to take a semester of ethnic studies in order to graduate.
The ethnic studies curriculum that will be implemented is currently being developed by the Instructional Quality Commission of the State Board of Education. AB 2772, as amended, will also require the California Department of Education to provide resources and technical assistance to districts who are participating in the opt-in pilot program. Districts who participate in the pilot will be required to report to the Legislature by 2024 with best practices and findings from the pilot.
“Ethnic studies courses are shown to better engage and empower students, as well as improve academic performance. All students can benefit from this holistic curriculum that will help will them better understand the rich histories and cultures that make up the United States,” Medina said.
The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk for signature.
San Francisco Marriott workers to hold mass labor day civil disobedience
Thousands of UNITE HERE Local 2 workers in 55 hotels had their contracts expire just weeks ago on August 15. Although Marriott is the biggest hotel employer in San Francisco and the most profitable hotel company in the world, after multiple negotiation sessions throughout the summer, we remain far apart on the issues that matter most to us. This Labor Day, instead of grilling out and picnicking, Local 2 hotel workers will participate in a direct action to hold the company accountable for jobs that are enough to afford the cost of living, to support our families, and to retire with dignity.
This action comes just weeks after 1,500 hotel workers picketed Marriott hotels hours after contract expiration.
