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The Untold, Real-life Story of the Prison in ‘Orange is the New Black’

Victoria Law Waging Nonviolence
In the fall of 2010, at a table in Danbury’s prison yard, five women decided that incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women needed to be part of the process of drafting and advocating for legislation that affects their lives and freedom. And so was started the real life organization, Families for Justice as Healing.

What if the Global BDS Movement Were to Achieve Its Goals?

Jerry Haber The Magnes Zionist
In 2005, Palestinian civil society issued a call for a campaign of boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it complies with international law and Palestinian rights. A truly global movement against Israeli Apartheid is rapidly emerging in response to this call. What is the genius of the BDS movement?

The Crime of Peaceful Protest

Chris Hedges Truthdig
The trial of McMillan, 25, is one of the last criminal cases originating from the Occupy protest movement. It is also one of the most emblematic. Had McMillan not been an Occupy activist, the trial that came out of this beating would have been about her receiving restitution from New York City for police abuse. Instead, she is charged with felony assault in the second degree and facing up to seven years in prison. She is expected to take the witness stand this week.

Despite Local 'No' Votes, Teamsters International Declares UPS Contract Ratified

Jane Slaughter Labor Notes
On April 16 members of Local 89 in Louisville voted no on their supplement for the second time, this time by 94 percent. Members were angry that they spend up to an hour a day—unpaid—on a shuttle that takes them to and from the parking lot to their work stations; the site is that big. They were also demanding that more part-time jobs be converted to full-time ones. Now the five-year contract is ratified—by fiat of the Teamsters international.

Londoners Battle Tube Strike, Businesses Lament Losses

Belinda Goldsmith Reuters
The walk-out, and a planned three-day strike next week, is over plans to close about 250 ticket offices and cut 950 jobs in a restructuring that Transport for London, which runs London's transportation network, says could save 50 million pounds a year.

Minimum Wage Battles

Odds remain low that Congress will raise the $7.25 federal minimum wage anytime soon.In the meantime, many states - and a few cities - have made moves to raise their own minimum wages over the next year.