Latest Human rights and civil liberties News

The Virginia state Capitol building is surrounded by fencing, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020 in Richmond, Va., in preparation for Monday's rally by gun rights advocates. Gun-rights groups are asking a judge to block the Virginia governor's ban on firearms at a massive pro-gun rally scheduled for next week. Gov. Ralph Northam on Wednesday, Jan. 15, announced a state of emergency and banned all weapons from the rally at the Capitol. (Dean Hoffmeyer/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP)

Virginia AG urges justices to prevent tragic rally violence

Jan. 17, 2020 11:56 AM EST

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring urged the state Supreme Court on Friday to reject an effort by pro-gun groups to overturn a gun ban at a rally that's expected to draw tens of thousands of activists to Richmond next week amid fears of violence. The legal arguments have unfolded...

Labor lawyer ends campaign for US Senate

Jan. 17, 2020 11:27 AM EST

BOSTON (AP) — Workers' rights attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan announced Friday that she is ending her primary challenge to Democratic U.S. Sen. Edward Markey. “Unfortunately, sometimes some obstacles are too great to overcome, and that is the situation my candidacy for Senate finds itself in," she...

A DirectTV dish stands on home in the Catia neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020. Venezuelan President Maduro’s opponents want AT&T’s DirecTV unit to restore a number of channels it was required to take down from its lineup. But forcing AT&T to do the political bidding of Maduro’s foes could lead to retaliation and likely exit from a market where it has a whopping 44% market share. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

AP Exclusive: AT&T under pressure to defy Maduro's censors

Jan. 17, 2020 11:23 AM EST

MIAMI (AP) — Last April, as a military uprising roiled Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro’s socialist government ordered pay TV providers to immediately cease transmission of CNN and the BBC. DirecTV, which is wholly owned by AT&T, quickly obliged, yanking the two networks off the air as live images...

Trial date set for officer charged with killing black man

Jan. 17, 2020 11:09 AM EST

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A trial date has been set for a white Nashville police officer charged with fatally shooting an armed black man during a foot chase in 2018. The trial for Andrew Delke, 25, is set to begin March 16, according to an order filed by Judge Monte Watkins on Thursday. Delke has pleaded...

FILE - In a Monday, Jan. 13, 2020 file photo, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner speaks in St. Louis. Ethical Society of Police President Heather Taylor said Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020 that the city prosecutor’s lawsuit is correct in pointing out racial concerns in St. Louis, including biases within the police department itself. (AP Photo/Jim Salter, File)

Leader of St. Louis black police union says racial bias real

Jan. 17, 2020 11:00 AM EST

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The president of a predominantly black St. Louis police union said Wednesday that the city prosecutor’s lawsuit is correct in pointing out racial concerns in St. Louis, including biases within the police department itself. Ethical Society of Police President Heather Taylor stopped...

New Hampshire to inaugurate second "Kid Governor"

Jan. 17, 2020 10:38 AM EST

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A fifth grader from Concord is taking office as New Hampshire's next “Kid Governor.” Suzy Brand, who attends Sant Bani School in Sanbornton, is being inaugurated Friday at the Statehouse, where she will discuss her platform focused on children's health and the importance...

FILE- In this Oct. 13, 2015, file photo, South Korean Army soldiers patrol during the demonstration of search operation at a training field near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Cheorwon, South Korea. In the first such case in South Korea, military officials will determine next week whether to discharge a solider who recently undertook gender reassessment surgery, officials said Friday, Jan. 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

South Korea to decide fate of 1st transgender soldier

Jan. 17, 2020 9:53 AM EST

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — In the first such case in South Korea, military officials will determine next week whether to discharge a solider who recently undertook gender reassignment surgery, officials said Friday. South Korea bans transgender people from joining its military but has no specific...

In this Jan. 9, 2020 photo, clients wait to enter the DirecTV headquarters in Caracas, Venezuela. Venezuelan President Maduro’s opponents want AT&T’s DirecTV unit to restore a number of channels it was required to take down from its lineup. But forcing AT&T to do the political bidding of Maduro’s foes could lead to retaliation and likely exit from a market where it has a whopping 44% market share. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

AP Exclusive: AT&T under pressure to defy Maduro's censors

Jan. 17, 2020 8:09 AM EST

MIAMI (AP) — Last April, as a military uprising roiled Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro’s socialist government ordered pay TV providers to immediately cease transmission of CNN and the BBC. DirecTV, which is wholly owned by AT&T, quickly obliged, yanking the two networks off the air as live images...

In this Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020 photo the so-called “Judensau,” or “Jew pig,” sculpture is displayed on the facade of the Stadtkirche (Town Church) in Wittenberg, Germany. A court in eastern Germany will consider next week a Jewish man’s bid to force the removal of an ugly remnant of centuries of anti-Semitism from a church where Martin Luther once preached. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Germany: Ugly anti-Semitic remnant at center of court battle

Jan. 17, 2020 7:02 AM EST

WITTENBERG, Germany (AP) — High on the wall of a German church where Martin Luther once preached, an ugly remnant of centuries of anti-Semitism is now at the center of a court battle. The so-called “Judensau,” or “Jew pig,” sculpture on the Town Church in Wittenberg dates back...

Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi, right, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Friday, Jan. 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

Chinese president heads to Myanmar for crucial state visit

Jan. 17, 2020 6:44 AM EST

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar (AP) — China's President Xi Jinping was given a lavish welcome to Myanmar as he arrived Friday for a state visit meant to deepen bilateral relations at a critical time. The visit nominally marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Myanmar,...

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