Remembering Hugh Masekela, South African Jazz Musician and Anti-Apartheid Activist

Robin Denselow The Guardian
Hugh Masekela - trumpeter and singer-songwriter was a pioneer of jazz in South Africa and a campaigner against apartheid in exile. The "Father of South African jazz," Masekela died in Johannesburg Tuesday. Masekela was one of those rare artists who succeeded in fusing politics with music, making his songs and performances compelling and timeless.

The Republican Shut Down of the U.S. Government

DSA's Immigrants’ Rights Committee Democratic Left
Immigration reform is desperately needed. Dreamers and TPS recipients need their legal status maintained and millions more need legal protection. It should be possible for those millions of immigrants working in this country to gain a route to legalization and citizenship.  Instead, the Trump White House demands a border wall, more ICE, more border guards, and even less legal protection for immigrants.

Court Clears Man Who Waited 7 Years for Trial on Pot Charges

Alan Feuer New York Times
The wheels of justice are known for turning slowly, but they moved so sluggishly in Mr. Tigano’s case that on Tuesday, the United States Appeals Court for the Second Circuit issued a scathing opinion dismissing his indictment.

Defending Democracy Means Organizing Your Workplace

Barry Eidlin and Micah Uetricht Working In These Times
Workers and Democracy: While most workers continue to check their democratic rights at the door of the warehouse, school, and hospital every day, these examples suggest a hunger among workers for organizing around issues of workplace democracy — and point the way to developing a new model for exercising political and economic citizenship.