Alt/Indie News

At Guantánamo, a Death Penalty Case Without a Death Penalty Lawyer

"The judge’s departure from the rules, which require learned counsel at every part of a capital prosecution, is inexplicable. Even beyond the binding military commission rules, the American Bar Association’s guidelines for capital cases have long explained that the unique and complex labyrinth of capital trial preparation and investigation requires qualified death penalty counsel represent the defendant at every stage of the proceedings. Nonetheless, Judge Spath suggested that the junior defense counsel should, alone, stand in the place of learned counsel and a team with deep knowledge of the voluminous issues that the case raises."

Continue ReadingAt Guantánamo, a Death Penalty Case Without a Death Penalty Lawyer

What If You’re Innocent But Your Attorney Pleads Guilty?

"Over McCoy’s express objection, the trial court permitted his attorney, Larry English, to tell the jury that McCoy was guilty of murder. With the court’s approval, English even purported to relieve the state of its burden to prove McCoy guilty of murder beyond a reasonable doubt. Following this brazen violation of McCoy’s autonomy, the jury returned a unanimous verdict for first-degree murder and sentenced McCoy to death."

Continue ReadingWhat If You’re Innocent But Your Attorney Pleads Guilty?

Pennsylvania Cops Raid Elderly Couple for Marijuana Plants That Weren’t

"Edward Cramer returned home in the midst of the raid, only to be met by leveled police guns, removed from his car, arrested, and placed in the police car with his wife for the next two hours. According to the lawsuit, Cramer repeatedly asked to show police that the plants were hibiscus, with the flowers clearly in bloom, to no avail."

Continue ReadingPennsylvania Cops Raid Elderly Couple for Marijuana Plants That Weren’t

In Baltimore, Residents Support Martial Law

"Neighborhoods are rotting away as the local economy crumbles giving way to a surge in homicides. Baltimore is on track for the worse year ever with a homicide rate the highest in the United States. Baltimore is home to about 615,000 people, but the city has more homicides than New York or Los Angeles, both of which have far larger populations. Earlier this year, Mayor Catherine Pugh called in the Federal Government in hopes to restore order. She was even quoted, 'violence in the city is out of control'…"

Continue ReadingIn Baltimore, Residents Support Martial Law

Ron Paul: Why Designate North Korea a ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism’?

"As bad as the North Korean government is, it is does not go abroad looking for countries to invade. The designation is a political one, allowing Washington to ramp up more aggression against North Korea. What is terrorism? Maybe we should ask a Yemeni child constantly wondering when the next Saudi bomb overhead might kill his family. Or perhaps we might even ask a Pakistani, Somali, Iraqi, Syrian, or other child who is terrified that the next US bomb will do the same to his family. Perhaps we need to look at whether US foreign policy actually reflects the American values we claim to be exporting before we point out the flaws in others."

Continue ReadingRon Paul: Why Designate North Korea a ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism’?

Pentagon to Admit to 2,000 Ground Troops in Syria

"US officials said on Friday that the Pentagon is expected to confirm concern that there are 'about 2,000' US ground troops in Syria, a major increase from the roughly 500 that they officially claim is the case. The US has overtly lied about troop levels in Syria consistently throughout their deployment. President Trump has made a point of troop levels needing to be kept secret from 'the enemy,' but consistent lies from the Pentagon about their deployments have made the figures less a closely guarded secret than a mockery of transparency."

Continue ReadingPentagon to Admit to 2,000 Ground Troops in Syria

Ron Paul: Why Are We Helping Saudi Arabia Destroy Yemen?

"We are told that US foreign policy should reflect American values. So how can Washington support Saudi Arabia – a tyrannical state with one of the worst human rights record on earth – as it commits by what any measure is a genocide against the Yemeni people? US involvement in Saudi Arabia’s crimes against Yemen is a national disgrace. That the mainstream media fails to accurately cover this genocide is shameful. Let us join our voices now to demand that our US Representatives end US involvement in Yemen immediately!"

Continue ReadingRon Paul: Why Are We Helping Saudi Arabia Destroy Yemen?

California Criminalizes Teaching Trade Skills To Dropouts

"A recent California law is requiring that trade schools like Bob’s deny admission to any student who has not completed high school or a state-approved equivalent. He is joined in the suit by Esteban Narez, a ranch hand who wants to learn how to shoe horses at PCHS, but cannot be admitted because he never graduated high school."

Continue ReadingCalifornia Criminalizes Teaching Trade Skills To Dropouts

Florida Upholds Town’s Ban on Eating Front-Yard Vegetables

"Hermine and Tom had used their front-yard garden to grow vegetables and other plants for 17 years. Miami Shores told Hermine and Tom to destroy their garden or face fines of $50 per day. Unable to bear the cost of the fines, they dug up their garden. In today’s decision, the court upheld the vegetable ban, concluding that it is rational for government to ban 'the cultivation of plants to be eaten as part of a meal, as opposed to the cultivation of plants for ornamental reasons.'"

Continue ReadingFlorida Upholds Town’s Ban on Eating Front-Yard Vegetables