National

English is so dominant in this country that it is hard to get Americans, even university students, to learn other languages. And, although first-generation immigrants may struggle a bit with English, their children here almost always are fluent in it, and by the third generation, the problem is not to get people to learn English, but to re-teach them the language of their grandparents. When politicians try to turn a non-problem into a problem, you can bet that the purposes are demagogic

The signers of the Declaration of Independence must be turning in their graves this July 4th over the shredding of basic democratic rights by corporate right-wing politicians in Washington.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The New York Police Department is running wild in Black and Latino neighborhoods, using racial profiling as a tool of choice, charges a group of students and residents of Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood.

WASHINGTON — One week before our nation’s July 4 celebration, thousands of protesters wearing Statue of Liberty crowns and holding signs reading “Torture is wrong” rallied on Capitol Hill to demand that Congress restore constitutional freedoms shredded by the Bush administration.

WASHINGTON — Animado por la victoria contra la derecha republicana en las elecciones del pasado noviembre, tres mil activistas en la quinta conferencia anual “Take Back America” (Retomemos a América) aplaudieron y vocearon la demanda de los oradores que el Congreso tiene que poner fin a la guerra en Irak, restaurar los derechos sindicales y promulgar servicios de salud universal.

ST. LOUIS, Missouri — Unos 80 activistas se reunieron en la ciudad de St. Louis, Missouri, para participar en una conferencia extraordinaria del Partido Comunista sobre la igualdad afronorteamericana.

CHICAGO — Graduarse con un diploma universitario es hoy aun más importante. Los estudiantes y sus familias hacen lo que sea para costearse la educación avanzada, incluso cargar con una deuda excesiva.

The new balance of forces in Congress, the greatly weakened position of the Bush administration, and the growing activity of the labor-led people’s coalition have rearranged the political playing field in our country. Everyone involved in politics has to adjust their tactics to these new realities.

Even before it officially opens on June 29, Michael Moore’s latest documentary “Sicko” is already impacting the national health care debate. Over 1,000 nurses and supporters braved sweltering heat to join Moore at a June 12 rally in Sacramento, Calif., sponsored by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee.

WASHINGTON — No matter how hot and sweaty it got here June 19, support for the Employee Free Choice Act was hotter. Some 3,000 union members and allies rallied on Capitol Hill for the most radical reform of U.S. labor law in over 70 years.