Category Archives: Human Rights

Flex-n-Gate Disaster, Just the Latest Chapter in a Toxic Story

By Ricky Baldwin When news broke this summer that a toxic cloud of sulfuric acid at a local plant had sent eleven local workers to the hospital, horrific as the story was, many in the area were not all that … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Immigration, Labor/Economics | Comments Off on Flex-n-Gate Disaster, Just the Latest Chapter in a Toxic Story

Champaign Housing Authority Considers Demolishing Third Black Neighborhood

A protest was held before the board meeting of the Housing Authority of Champaign County (HACC) on Thursday, August 23, 2012 by those questioning plans to demolish Bristol Place, a largely African American neighborhood on the North End in Champaign. … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Champaign Housing Authority Considers Demolishing Third Black Neighborhood

Close Tamms Supermax Prison

  Belden Fields “A considerable number of the prisoners fell, after even a short confinement, into a semi-fatuous condition, from which it was next to impossible to arouse them, and others became violently insane; others still, committed suicide; while those … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Prisoners | Comments Off on Close Tamms Supermax Prison

Chris Drew Dies Day Before Eavesdropping Law Ruled Unconstitutional

(From Chicago Independent Media Center) – Chris Drew, Chicago artist, activist, and free speech advocate, passed away on May 7. Drew was noted among the community of Chicago political activists for being a consistent presence at political activist rallies and … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Policing, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Chris Drew Dies Day Before Eavesdropping Law Ruled Unconstitutional

BOT Speech

First of all, I would like to thank the Board for granting me the opportunity to address them. I am here to discuss an issue at the local Flex-N-Gate auto-parts plant that is actively harming our entire community and threatening … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Immigration, Labor/Economics | Comments Off on BOT Speech

Dismantling Democracy

By Marya Burke The very first amendment of our constitution states: “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech… or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Policing, Politics | Comments Off on Dismantling Democracy

FLEX N GATE WORKERS FIGHT FOR HEALTH, LIVING WAGES AND JUSTICE IN URBANA ILLINOIS

CENTRAL ILLINOIS JOBS WITH JUSTICE FLEX N GATE WORKERS FIGHT FOR HEALTH, LIVING WAGES AND JUSTICE IN URBANA ILLINOIS WHY A BILLIONAIRE CANT AFFORD SAFETY EQUIPMENT OR LIVING WAGES ? Billionaire Shahid Kahn, owner of Flex N Gate Incorporated, manafactures bumpers for the … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Labor/Economics, Uncategorized | Comments Off on FLEX N GATE WORKERS FIGHT FOR HEALTH, LIVING WAGES AND JUSTICE IN URBANA ILLINOIS

International Capitalism Writ Large in Our Community

By Jimmi Jay Flex-N-Gate is a multi-national corporation that manufactures auto parts ranging from bumpers and hinges to pedal systems and instrument panels for major automakers including BMW, Ford, Nissan, and Toyota. In 2011, Flex-N-Gate reported $2.5 billion in annual … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Labor/Economics | Comments Off on International Capitalism Writ Large in Our Community

Winning the Bread

By Nancy Dietrich Dietrich works for the University of Illinois and lives in Urbana. This piece (which has been slightly modified) was originally published as a Guest Commentary in the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette. Awhile back, a male friend disclosed to me … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Labor/Economics, Women | Comments Off on Winning the Bread

Learning the Lessons of Depleted Uranium

By Conrad Wetzel   One of the most significant wastes obtained from producing fuel for nuclear reactors and atomic bombs is depleted uranium. An isotope which can be fissioned is uranium U-235, the material used in civil and nuclear military … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, International, Politics | Comments Off on Learning the Lessons of Depleted Uranium

Champaign: the City Above the Law

Take one: an individual asserts his rights under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act In 2009, dentist G. Mark Gekas lodged a complaint with the Sangamon County sheriff’s office that he had been brutally mistreated by deputy sheriff John Gillette … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Policing | Comments Off on Champaign: the City Above the Law

A Residency Requirement Might Help Police Situation

A Residency Requirement Might Help Police Situation   Dannel McCollum, a former Champaign mayor and a Democratic candidate for the state Senate in 2002, is a historian and a freelance writer.   This piece originally appeared in the News-Gazette on … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Policing | Comments Off on A Residency Requirement Might Help Police Situation

Police Violence in Champaign: City Manager Holds a Not Very Newsy Press Conference

    Belden Fields   After the Sunday November 20 issue of the News-Gazette published a front page article on excessive violence against a black youth by the Champaign police near campus on June 5, Champaign City Manager Steve Carter … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Policing | Comments Off on Police Violence in Champaign: City Manager Holds a Not Very Newsy Press Conference

Community Members, City Leaders Search for Answers in June 5 Arrest

Jerehme Bamberger   A squad car video of a confrontation between a Champaign city police officer and a local African American youth has raised serious concerns about the relationship between the CPD and high-ranking city officials in the last week.  … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Policing | Comments Off on Community Members, City Leaders Search for Answers in June 5 Arrest

Heather Ault: Visualizing 4000 Years of Choice

Adapted from Sunday 20 November 2011 Interview By Eleanor J. Bader published online in  On The Issues Magazine | Op-Ed Heather Ault holds a Master of Fine Arts and her current position is as a graphic designer at the Office of Online … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Heather Ault: Visualizing 4000 Years of Choice

Errata to City Court Article

I would like to correct two errors of fact that I made in an article on Champaign’s City Court in the November 2010 issue of the Public i  First, I stated that the “court/expense fee,” the fee that a guilty … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Politics | Comments Off on Errata to City Court Article

Photos from Troy Davis Rally

These photos were taken at a rally for Troy Davis in front of the alma mater on September 21, 2011 the day he was executed in Georgia.  Credit: Mary Gen Davies.  

Posted in Human Rights | Comments Off on Photos from Troy Davis Rally

What Has 9/11 Done to the United States?

In the October 2001 issue of the Public i, I examined elements of US policy that might have contributed to the 9/11 attack terrorist act that violated the human rights of the people killed and injured. Here I want to … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, International, Politics | Comments Off on What Has 9/11 Done to the United States?

U of I Law Professor Harassed by FBI/CIA After 9/11

Francis Boyle at the World Court The attorney-client privilege assuring confidentiality between the two parties is one of the most cherished rights of the American law system, but according to internationally recognized lawyer, author and professor Francis A. Boyle of … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, International, Politics, Uncategorized | Comments Off on U of I Law Professor Harassed by FBI/CIA After 9/11

The Sound Before the Fury: The California Prison Hunger Strike

Beginning on July 1, 2011, hundreds of prisoners of all races in California’s Pelican Bay SHU (“Security Housing Unit”) began a historic hunger strike to demand an end to the cruel and inhumane treatment that they suffer under – including … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, National, Politics, Prisoners | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Sound Before the Fury: The California Prison Hunger Strike