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The Trial of Nelson Mandela

Back in the day on October 22nd, 1962, Nelson Mandela stood trial for inciting workers to strike and for leaving South Africa without a passport. The African National Congress member set out to put the injustices of the government itself on trial as he took up the task of defending himself. Mandela, who …

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Afghanistan’s incumbent president Hamid Karzai has conceded to a runoff election on November 7th, responding to heavy international and US pressure. This summer’s presidential election was marred by rampant vote fraud in which both Karzai and his closest rival Abdullah Abdullah were implicated. Karzai had for weeks maintained that he won an outright runoff-proof majority, and even as …

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On Monday, LA-based gang intervention activist Alex Sanchez was denied bail for a second time. The “Homies Unidos” co-founder and Executive Director has been held in custody since late June on federal racketeering charges. Despite community supporters gathering more than $2.5 million dollars in sureties and property deeds to secure his release, US Ninth Circuit Court Judge Manuel …

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Back in the day on October 21st, 1835, fierce abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison was attacked by a racist mob. In an incident that has come to be known by history as the “Boston Riot,” the advocate for the immediate emancipation of slaves was dragged from a meeting of the Female Anti-Slavery Society. Opponents of abolition authored handbills …

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President Barack Obama outlined a new policy of engagement yesterday with the government of Sudan. In unveiling a two-fold strategy, the Obama administration announced plans to offer incentives to Khartoum if it takes measurable steps towards peace. In addition, the President, who also stated that he would resume sanctions on Sudan this week, warned of “increased pressure” on the regime …

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The Bay-area based musician and poet Michael Franti is long known to Pacifica listeners. Over his 20 year career, Franti and his band Spearhead, have provided a fitting sound track to peace and social justice movements with their songs like Bomb the World and Listener Supported. Franti’s annual music festival Power to the Peaceful, has attracted tens of …

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Rush Limbaugh’s attempt to buy the NFL’s St. Louis Rams has created controversy and consternation among everyone from the NFL Players Union to Rev. Al Sharpton. The conservative radio talk show host was interested in a franchise estimated at a value of $929 million. The primary reason for the opposition to his purchase is the “shock jock’s” often racist …

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Empire Notes are weekly commentaries filed by Rahul Mahajan, author of Full Spectrum Dominance and The New Crusade. Today’s commentary is on Stanley McChrystal.

GUEST: Rahul Mahajan, author of Full Spectrum Dominance and The New Crusade.

Visit www.empirenotes.org for more information. …

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The Johnny Bright Incident

Back in the day on October 20th, 1957, the Johnny Bright Incident occurred. During a college football game, a white player named Wilbanks Smith from Oklahoma A&M broke the jaw of Johnny Bright, a talented African-American halfback/quarterback from Drake University. Taking place in the first seven minutes of the game at Lewis Field in …

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More than year after receiving massive infusions of capital through taxpayer funded bailouts, major Wall Street firms posted strong third quarter profits last week. JP Morgan Chase’s reporting of a $3.6 billion dollar profit on Wednesday lifted the Dow Jones industrial average over 10,000 points for the first time in over a year. Goldman Sachs followed the next …

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