Should Fat People Be Taxed?

Over one-third of Americans are now obese. What is the impact on employers, health insurance premiums, and other things like gas usage? Should fat people be taxed? Ana Kasparian, Cenk Uygur, Lucas Lilieholm, Jayar Jackson, and Jesus Godoy break down a Reuters report on this topic on The Young Turks.

Read more here from Sharon Begley: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/30/us-obesity-factbox-idUSBRE83T0CG201...

Mexico passes law for drug war victims

Mexico's government has fast-tracked a law to compensate victims of crime.

The law for victims who have suffered in the war on drugs was just been passed by Congress a week after being introduced.

Some 60 thousand people have been killed in Mexico's drug war in the past six years.

Convicted Killer May Be Freed With New DNA Evidence

Via Reuters/Yahoo News: "A man sentenced to life in prison for raping a Colorado woman and strangling her to death with a dog leash could be freed on Monday based on advanced DNA testing that is believed to exonerate him of the crime.
Robert "Rider" Dewey, 51, who has been imprisoned since his 1996 conviction, is scheduled to appear before a Colorado judge on Monday in Grand Junction for a post-conviction hearing in his case, according to the county's court docket...".* Ana Kasparian, Cenk Uygur, Jayar Jackson, and former prosecutor Steve Oh discuss on The Young Turks.

*Read more from Keith Coffman: http://news.yahoo.com/dna-testing-may-free-convicted-colorado-killer-02165895...

Watch - Death Penalty, Luxury Prisons, & False Convictions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAE5fveU8BM

More convicts exonerated from Texas prisons

More and more men are being exonerated of wrongful convictions in Texas due to DNA evidence. Mark Strassmann reports on why this is happening and how the exonerated men are getting together.

Rebel Diaz - Oh Why

Hunt for Warlord Kony Gets US Special Forces Aid

U.S. Special Forces are now teaming up with African troops in the hunt for Joseph Kony, one of the world's most wanted warlords and the subject of a recent viral video campaign.

FATHERS INCORPORATED ANNOUNCES FRED HAMMOND

FATHERS INCORPORATED ANNOUNCES FRED HAMMOND TO SERVE AS CO-NATIONAL CHAIR AND SPOKESPERSON FOR TIES NEVER BROKEN CAMPAIGN -- Chris Broussard and Fred Hammond to lead the effort of the "Ties Never Broken" Blue Bow Tie Campaign --
New York, NY (BlackNews.com) -- Inspired by President Barack Obama's 2010 Father's Day address, Fathers Incorporated (FI) has launched its Ties Never Broken campaign. Fathers Incorporated, a not-for-profit organization in New York is committed to eliminating fatherlessness and increasing the commitment of men to become mentors. Over the last several months, the campaign has garnered international attention and is supported by The White House and several major urban cities. The Ties Never Broken campaign is symbolized by the social marketing icon of a "blue bow tie."
New to the team in championing the mission of responsible fatherhood is Fred Hammond, Grammy Award and multiple award-winning performer, producer and writer. Hammond joins fellow co-spokesperson Chris Broussard, journalist and sports analyst for ESPN. "I am excited to serve in this honorable capacity of saving our children," states Hammond. "I've spent my life striving to be a responsible father and man, and I find it unacceptable what's happening to our children because of the disengagement of fathers and able bodied men."
"For years, FI has been working in the field of responsible fatherhood, with the goal of creating effective service models to serve men," says Kenneth Braswell, executive director of Fathers Incorporated. "Our biggest struggle in combating both father absence and the lack of viable mentors is our inability to raise the societal level of conciseness regarding the importance of responsible male involvement."
"It is our hope to garner the support of other influential men in sports, entertainment, business and in our faith-based communities to champion our efforts. Particularly those who have played impactful fatherhood roles in television and screen, as well as those who have a passion for elevating the image of responsible fatherhood and family values," adds co-spokesperson, Chris Broussard.
About Fred Hammond:
Fred Hammond is a multi-faceted Award-winning contemporary gospel artist, producer and musical arranger. For more than four decades, he has shared his musical gift to the world; an accolade few gospel artists can boast. As a solo artist and member of the pioneering urban group, Commissioned, he has sold more than 2 million albums. Hammond is a Grammy Award winner and multiple Stellar Award winner. He has also been nominated for every major award including the NAACP Image Award, BET Award and Dove Award. Hammond's first love album, a double-CD set entitled, "God, Love, & Romance," released earlier this year on January 31, 2012.
Fathers Incorporated will be engaged in several projects within the coming months including the kick-off of Fatherhood Buzz, an initiative with the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC) and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services in support of President Obama's Responsible Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative. The NRFC Fatherhood Buzz is an effort to promote responsible fatherhood and disseminate parenting information to fathers, families, and the community at-large via one of the most trusted community resources for men - Barbershops. In honor of Father's Day, seven targeted cities across the country (Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; Milwaukee, WI; New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; and Washington, DC) will participate in the inaugural Fatherhood Buzz event on Saturday, June 16, 2012. FI has also teamed with the McDonald's Gospel Fest to promote the organization's weMentor campaign in three cities: Newark, NJ; Chicago, IL; and Philadelphia, PA.
Additional FI partnerships and initiatives include: "Power Down," a campaign to encourage parents to acknowledge their children's technology habits and "Rumble Young Man Rumble," mentorship development strategies at the Muhammad Ali Center and several other activities to highlight the importance of father involvement. FI is working in partnership with ICF International, Ad Council and BLH Technologies.
For additional information and updates on the campaign, please visit www.fathersincorporated.com.
-END-

autism bill

9/11 Arraignments To Be Broadcast

Its been announced that the arraignments of 5 terror suspects of 9/11 will be broadcast to a select group of individuals.

Source:
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2012/04/2012427163639839808.html

Selected Works of the Maoist Rebel for sale now:
http://lulu.com/spotlight/MaoistRebelNews

LA riots echo in Sanford, Fla.

Twenty years ago deadly riots swept Los Angeles after a jury acquitted a group of LAPD who had been caught on tape beating Rodney King. Race relations have changed since then, but a lot of the themes from that period are shaping the conversation around Trayvon Martin's death.

Humanitarian Crisis Continues in Gaza

Dr. Mads Gilbert: The siege of Gaza continues to make life unbearable

More at http://therealnews.com

The Message of Michael Jackson

Law enforcement use Twitter to make cases

30 April: Solidarity with Stop & Frisk Protesters

We're Taking the Fight to Stop "Stop & Frisk", a Pipeline to Mass Incarceration, to Court April 30th, Monday, Manhattan Criminal Court, 100 Centre Street, Manhattan. J to Canal, 6/R/N to Canal Street Rally & Press Conference at 8:45 AM, 100 Centre Street Last October 21st in New York City, people stood up and said "Enough!" to our youth getting jacked up and humiliated every day by the NYPD's racist, illegal and unconstitutional "stop-and-frisk" program. Over 200 persons of various ethnic and social backgrounds, answered a call initiated by Carl Dix of the Revolutionary Community Party, and Cornel West, Princeton University professor and renown public intellectual, to take part in a nonviolent civil disobedience action at the NYPD's 28th Precinct in Harlem. 36 persons were arrested on that day. The news of this action flew across the globe and woke people up! This Monday, April 30th, at 9:30 am, 20 of the original 36people arrested will go on trial in Manhattan Criminal Court. Coming to court on that day will be Cornel West, Carl Dix, Randy Credico, social comedian and former director of the William Moses Kunstler Fund for Racial Justice, Rev. Stephen Phelps, senior minister of The Riverside Church, Rev. Earl Kooperkamp, rector of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Harlem, Prof. Jim Vrettos of John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Debra Sweet of the World Can't Wait, and Nellie Bailey of Occupy Harlem. Occupy Wall Street activists are also in the mix. The defendants are facing misdemeanor Disorderly Conduct charges. People say we nothing wrong or illegal was done; in fact people stepped out for the greater good against a policy that is not only racist, and targets Black and Latino youth, but is illegal and unconstitutional! This trial will be a continuation of the campaign kicked off on October 21st in opposition to Stop and Frisk. We will rally with the people who put their bodies on the line on Oct 21st to raise greater resistance to Stop & Frisk. Both outside and in the courtroom they will speak to why they did that and how they are determined to take that opposition to Stop & Frisk into the courtroom and beyond. Join Us on April 30th at Manhattan Criminal Court, 100 Center Street,Downtown Manhattan. Fill the Courtroom! Stand with the New Freedom Fighters/Riders! J/6/R/N to Canal Street

Black Jews: 'Peace & light' or social inconvenience

They consider themselves descendants of an ancient tribe, in existence in the promised land for thousands of years. However, returning to home soil, they've been faced with government oppression and struggled to be properly recognized. RT's Paula Slier heard their story.

Ex-CIA officer defends interrogation tactics

The man who helped lead the so-called enhanced interrogation programme in US prisons overseas has defended the policies.

Jose Rodriguez, former director of the CIA's National Clandestine Service, writes in a new book that techniques such as sleep deprivation and waterboarding are justified.

Alec and For-Profit Colleges

Via Republic Report: "Republic Report has learned that the Washington Post Company's Kaplan for-profit college division, was, last year, a member of the controversial business advocacy group the American Legislative Exchange Council. Other major for-profit education companies also joined ALEC. Republic Report has obtained a July 2011 document showing Kaplan Higher Education and other for-profits as members of ALEC's Education Task Force...".* Ana Kasparian and Ben Mankiewicz discuss on The Young Turks.

*Read more from David Halperin: http://www.republicreport.org/2012/wash-post-kaplan-alec/

LA riots: 20 years later, not much has changed

It has been 20 years since one of the deadliest and costliest urban uprisings in American history. Many parts of Los Angeles have been rebuilt since the 1992 riots, but believe it or not, there are some parts of the city that have been unable to fully recover over the past two decades. The six days of violence ended with 53 deaths and more than $1 billion in damage, but it was much more than an angry reaction to the Rodney King verdict. Many of the underlying conditions, which led to the rioting, are the same or worse today.

Iona maximum security prison is mistreating and tormenting prisoners

Iona maximum security prison is mistreating and tormenting prisoners. They are being disallowed food,showers,mail,phone calls. Some inmates are getting food poisoning, windows do not open for ventilation for the inmates. They're hang time prison officers are constantly jumping on them, name calling, turning other prisoners against prisoners i.e violence. The inmates are living in inhumane circumstances. The prison is deemed for review. The warden does not seem to care what is going on within his prison walls.I received information about 2 specific inmates JR and Davontae,They were tied up for days, jumped on by correctional officers, not allowed to shower,eat had their shoes and clothes removed from them and put into cells where windows do not open this torment needs to stop also correctional officers telling inmates we know where you stay,it needs to be recognised exactly what is happening within this prison system.


Phone 517 373 8573
Fax     517 373 5550
email  ombudsman@legislture.mi.gov

Occupy Student Debt Day of Action

RT's Anastasia Churkina reports from the New York protests against 1 trillion dollar student debt in the U.S.

Student debt getting in the way of the American dream?

Over the last couple of years students from places such as Chile, England and Canada have made their voices heard when it comes to tuition increases and student debt. In the US, student loan debt has surpassed credit card debt and has exceeded the $1 trillion mark. Robert Applebaum, founder of ForgiveStudentLoanDebt.com, helps us answer some questions on student loan debt.

DNA Testing Proved Michael Saunders' Innocence

Michael Saunders was convicted of a rape and murder that he did not commit, and sentenced to 40 years imprisonment. Just 15 at the time of the crime, police showed him crime scene evidence and coerced him into confessing, then prosecutors used that confession to convict him, even though DNA evidence did not match him or his co-defendents. After serving 17 years, a match between DNA evidence and an unrelated man who had been convicted of similar crimes proved Michael's innocence and secured his freedom.

The '92 Riot: Revisiting Dark Days in LA History

In 1992, a jury with no black members had acquitted four police officers in the beating of Rodney King, a black man stopped for speeding. That marked the beginning of one of the deadliest, most destructive race riots in the nation's history.

ARE YOU GOING TO RELEASE ME OR WHAT I AM INNOCENT

We will be doing a new nonprofit organization for Davontae Sanford,which is under construction at the moment. It would be greatly appreciated that only people who are truly interested in the release of Davontae who is an innocent young man join the cause.There will be a pay pal account for any donations which would help the Davontae family with legal funds to help gain his freedom,for a 19 year old young man falsely accused of murder.

                                                       A MOTHERS PAIN

I am starting a new campaign,as we had a number of web sites and was not getting the support needed,and we are not getting the justice we need for Davontae. Every day that goes by,is another day of Davontae's freedom gone and he is away from his family. he was not able to finish and complete school or go to his school prom,he went to prison as a child and is now a man. When i hear my son's voice I can feel his pain, and as his mother feel the pain too. It makes me feel so frustrated as he is innocent,and he stills sits in prison for something he did not do. I keep asking myself,what is taking so long for them to do the right thing. I have to stand strong to overcome this for Davontae, So I am asking you as his mother to do the right thing and join this organization to free my son and bring him home to where he belongs. This could be your child as it is mine. I am Davontaes voice,now I need you to be mine.
                             

                          WILL YOU BE A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS


                        
                            STANDING UP FOR THE INNOCENT

As people we should stand up for what the facts and truth are in this dramatic case,which is about the facts about the evidence, The facts about the police cohercing Davontae into knowing about the crimes and making him sign a written confession without a lawyer or guardian present. It is sad to see how high profile people,that took the oath can slander and sacrifice a kid for such horrible crimes that he was accused off. How can you all wake up in the morning and go to the bathroom and look yourselves in the mirror,as if this is right, and go to church every Sunday and supposed to be praising the lord and receiving whatever it is you are looking for the lord to do. Do you all.or do you all not know that this case alone makes you all worship and praise in vain,how dare you all proclaim to be children of god and allow this type of mess to happen,this is unconstitutional and the god that I serve will let the truth prevail on this matter and that right there will be the power of the holy spirit. Do what is right and find a soft spot in your heart not in your mind, to release Davontae. Vincent Smothers a notorious Hitman "If he can find a soft spot in his heart to admitting to these devastating Homocides.That you all as leaders can do what is right and pull all the strings to release Davontae Sanford and bring him home to his family where he belongs.
To the family of Trayvon Martin and Aiyana Jones and all the other families around the world ,that is grieving for the loss or incarceration of a loved one,god is and will be with you. The bible says love thy neigbour as thyself ,so please let's not forget about this innocent boy and let's stand up and fight for the freedom of Davontae Sanford and all the rest that is incarcerated,may god bless and be with you all.


Co-founders:  Jermaine Timan
                      Dracy Delaproser
                      Roberto Guzman 
Email standingupfortheinnocent@yahoo.com
                     

                    

Hundreds rally for Mumia's release outside the DoJ

Mumia Abu Jamal is an American writer and journalist whose prison case
has sparked international outrage. He has spent the last 29 years on
death row, but earlier this year his sentence was reduced to life in
prison without the possibility of parole. Abby Martin of RT reports
from the "Occupy the Justice" rally in Washington, DC on Mumia's 58th
birthday, where hundreds have gathered in solidarity with the Occupy
Movement to call attention to his case, the unfairness of the US
justice system and an end to mass incarceration in the US, where one
out of every 100 Americans are currently in prison.

Alert! Alert! Evil Has Taken Over!

Davontae's freedom"justice starts of as TODAY!

we are not happy about the response for the Davontae Sanford case which was rallied on the 23rd April "Lets not forget about Davontae and his innocence we will continue to keep rallying and fighting for Davontae's freedom"justice starts of as TODAY!

Occupy the DOJ: Activists Protest Injustice of Criminal Justice System

Movement grows against mass incarceration of millions of poor people of color

For more Real News go to http://therealnews.com

Families fight for justice

Two families involved in high profile cases protested demanding justice.

New George Zimmerman Photo, Bond Hearing

George Zimmerman was granted bail and a new photo was released showing blood on the back of his head suggesting there was an altercation with Trayvon Martin, the unarmed 17-year-old Zimmerman shot and killed. Cenk Uygur, Ana Kasparian, and Ben Mankiewicz break it down on The Young Turks.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57417663/zimmermans-family-testifies-at-b...

Anonymous 'OpCannabis' Vs War On Drugs

Via The Raw Story: "Members of the hacking collective [Anonymous], who were at the epicenter of planning and promoting "Occupy Wall Street" last year, announced earlier this month that April 20, 2012 would mark the beginning of an official "Anonymous" push-back against America's drug laws. Speaking to Raw Story this week, a person claiming to be a member of "Anonymous," who watched an attack on Sony's website from behind the scenes but did not participate, claimed responsibility for the group's new "OpCannabis" campaign, explaining that the operation is determined to throw the collective's weight behind drug reform...".* Cenk Uygur, Ana Kasparian, and Ben Mankiewicz discuss on The Young Turks. Did Cenk almost smoke a joint on the air?

*Read more from Stephen C. Webster: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/04/20/anonymous-hacker-legalize-marijuana-for...

PBS REPORT - NEW VIDEO PROMPTS QUESTIONS IN BORDER PATROL KILLING

A new video, along with an eyewitness account, has emerged that appears to show the beating and repeated tasering of an illegal immigrant by a group of border patrol agents just hours before the immigrant's death, according to a report airing tonight on PBS.
The PBS "Need to Know" report, which was the result of a joint project with the Investigative Fund of the Nation Institute and has been reviewed by ABC News, features what PBS calls new video of the May 2010 beating of Anastacio Hernandez Rojas. Rojas, an illegal immigrant, was being transferred back to Mexico when the Customs and Border Protection said he became "combative" and officers had to use a taser to "subdue the individual and maintain officer safety."
But the new video, taken from an overpass, appears to show a group of more than a dozen border patrol agents surrounding Rojas, who is already on the ground, as he is struck repeatedly by some officers and then tasered multiple times. Rojas would later die in a nearby hospital. According to multiple purported eyewitnesses featured in the PBS report, it was clear Rojas was not resisting as he was beaten. In another video that captured the incident, a man identified by PBS as Rojas can be heard screaming for help in Spanish.
CLICK HERE to see a preview of the story and watch the full report tonight on PBS.
Though the death was ruled a "homicide" by the San Diego medical examiner and the incident was investigated by the San Diego Police Department, no border patrol agents were charged with a crime, PBS said.
The CBP declined an interview with PBS for their report and a spokesperson for the department declined ABC News' requests for comment as well, citing an ongoing investigation. Instead, the spokesperson offered the following statement:
"CBP stresses honor and integrity in every aspect of our mission. CBP employees and officers perform their duties with honor and distinction, working tirelessly every day to keep our country safe. We do not tolerate abuse within our ranks, and we fully cooperate with any criminal or administrative investigations of alleged misconduct by any of our personnel, on or off duty." - 20 April 2012.

Watching porn helping the US economy?

Ex-Presidential GOP hopeful Rick Santorum wanted to wage war on the porn industry claiming it was destroying children. Compared to Western Europe, America seems uptight when it comes to talking sex. Alex Chance, an adult film performer, joins us to talk about the issue

Occupy Marines, Occupy Wisconsin, Jesse Jackson Jr.-OWS Week-04-18-2012

This episode of the show looks at the US veterans' contribution to the 99ers and their participation in the movement.

It contains an exclusive statement from the Occupy Marines made by both active duty and off duty soldiers. It also contains a review of the week actions including the Bank of America protests and arrests in New York and Washington.

The final part pays to preparations for the Mayday protests in which more than 40 Occupy groups are getting ready to take part in alongside dozens of workers.

New clue in 1979 disappearance of Etan Patz

Six-year-old Etan Patz disappeared on his way to school in New York City in 1979 and was never seen again. But, a new clue has police digging in the basement of a building near his home. John Miller reports.

Fige Bornu FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 
Fige Bornu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2012
Contact:

Roland Lawrence aka Fige Bornu
(313) 978-0789
justice4aiyana@hotmail

Justice for Aiyana Jones Committee
Demands and Supports
‘Justice Rally for
Davontae Sanford and Charles Jones’

The Justice for Aiyana Jones Committee, and the Free Charles Jones Committee (aka The Justice for Charles and Aiyana Jones Committee) wholeheartedly support the April 23, 2012 "Justice March and Protest" in downtown Detroit at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice (8:00 am) demanding the immediate release of teenager Davontae Sanford, and the father of Aiyana Jones, Charles Jones.

“Both men clearly are victims of a highly questionable prosecutor's office that must be ordered by the public masses that such an injustice will be not tolerated,” states Roland Lawrence aka Fige Bornu, Chairman, of the aforementioned groups.