by the El Reportero’s staff
Members of the human rights and antiwar group, Codepink held a protest in front of Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Nancy Pelosi on Feb. 14, to denounce the unlawful treatment of whistleblower Bradley Manning, charged with leaking information of U.S. war crimes and failed foreign policy in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Codepink and other human rights groups claim they have documents presented to Feinstein Monday – which will prove Manning has been mistreated in violation of his constitutional rights, noting he has been detained in solitary confi nement for more than eight months, without trial, and is not allowed to have any meaningful exercise. His sleep is regularly interrupted.
In a Codepink statement, the group demanded that Manning be treated like any U.S. Citizen because he has a constitutional right for a speedy trial and humane treatment. “Instead, he is being punished without a conviction of any crime, but rather for suspicion of leaking truth about the war crimes of others,” the statement said. “Like the prisoners at Guantanamo, he is being held in indefinite detention… It is the duty of all elected offi cials to protect the constitutional rights of U.S. citizens. His case is a testament to the current assaults on our democracy.”
Proposed funding cuts to Head Start
Last week the U.S. House of Representatives would vote on a plan to cut 200,000 of the most at-risk children across the country from Head Start classrooms. “H.R. 1, a budget proposal for the remaining seven months of fi scal year 2011, represents an unprecedented cut to a program that has historically received bipartisan support,” says Rick Mockler, Executive Director of the California Head Start Association, in a written document.
According to the organization, the proposed cuts would reduce Head Start funding by over 20 percent. If these cuts are enacted, in California 27,000 children and their families will be dropped from Head Start’s education, health, and support service programs.
ACLU send letter to Sheriff Hennessy against supporting immigration raids
Citing the ACLU new report, Costs and Consequences: The high Piece of Policing Immigrant Communities, it lets know Sheriff Hennessy the price to pay for enforcing immigration laws.
“It can discourage witnesses and victims of crime from coming forward, undermine local peace officers’ credibility with immigrant community members and ultimately harm public safety for the whole community,” the letter said.
The report, says the ACLU’s letter, draws on many conversations they had with law enforcement leaders over the last year and a half.
Computers for students who live in public housing
Fifty-eight Malcolm X Elementary students who live in public housing will be given computers to extend their learning at home. This Bayview school has the highest percentage of students in SFUSD living in public housing, where residents now have wi-fi access. At home, they will be able to use the online Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY) and School Loop (a website to keep parents informed about their child’s progress at school).
Students are being encouraged to spend about three hours a week studying on EPGY; their progress will be monitored by the district in this pilot program.
