July 8, 2006

PHILADELPHIA — As other grannies and their supporters sang peace songs, spoke out against the war and displayed their colorful banners and signs outside a U.S. Armed Forces Center here, 11 grandmothers tried unsuccessfully June 28 to enlist for service in Iraq. “Take us, not Philadelphia’s children and grandchildren,” they told the recruiters. “Let them live their lives.”

WASHINGTON — Defenders of civil liberties hailed the Supreme Court’s 5-3 decision July 1 that President Bush has no authority to try thousands of detainees in military tribunals at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and at other U.S. military prisons around the world.

CHICAGO — With summer arriving and school letting out, kids are anxious to play, have fun, relax and hang out with their families and friends. A new program aims to allow kids to do just those things, while also helping to build greater peace and unity in the neighborhood.

The Communist Party USA strongly condemns the latest acts of aggression by the Israeli government against the Palestinian people. In the past days, the Israeli Army has launched a series of attacks on civilian infrastructure, including bridges, water supply facilities and Gaza’s only power station.

ST. LOUIS — Over 600 trade unionists, community activists, peace activists and students protested President Bush’s visit here June 28. Bush was in town for a $2,000-a-plate fund-raiser for right-wing Missouri Sen. Jim Talent, who faces strong opposition from Democrat Claire McCaskill, the state auditor.

NEW YORK — Ending Republican majority control of the U.S. House and Senate in the midterm elections Nov. 7 “is a battle that can be won,” said Joelle Fishman, chair of the Communist Party USA’s Political Action Commission, speaking to a meeting June 25 of the party’s national committee.

MILWAUKEE: Immigrant worker voter registration drive kicks off
TRENTON, N.J.: State shuts down, thousands laid off
WASHINGTON: OK to coastal drilling provokes fury
DURHAM, N.C.: $2 million hush money offered to rape victim

MEXICO CITY — No clear winner emerged after Mexicans went to the polls on July 2 to elect their president. As the World went to press, the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) had still not declared a winner, although it said it had counted 98.45 percent of vote and Felipe Hinojosa Calderon of the right-wing National Action Party (PAN) was leading.

Somalia: Humanitarian crisis looms
Ecuador: Cuban programs aid thousands
United Nations: Illegal small arms trade studied
Britain: Wal-Mart workers win bargaining rights
Japan: CP decries U.S.-Japan military alliance
Nepal: U.S. threatens aid cutoff

Last week our New York educator correspondent Maria Ortiz reported on three changes of toilet paper dispensers in school buildings while seats for special ed kids are being eliminated. This week she continues her on-the-ground report.