- Two months after the Burmese army launched brutal attacks against Rohingya Muslim villages in retaliation for insurgent attacks, the United States is ending its military assistance to Myanmar. Since a wave of attacks against Rohingya villages, over 600,000 refugees have fled to Bangladesh, triggering an international humanitarian crisis. (“US Withdraws Assistance from Myanmar Military Amid Rohingya Crisis,” The Guardian, Oct. 24, 2017; “U.S. Declaration of ‘Ethnic Cleansing’ in Myanmar on Way,” Chicago Tribune, Oct. 24, 2017)
- Virginia’s influential African-American vote could swing the state’s razor tight governor’s race between Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, and former National Republican Party Committee Chair Republican Ed Gillespie. The Virginia race is seen by many observers as a bellwether on the popularity of Donald Trump’s presidency. (“Eric Holder Group Pumps Big Money Into Close Virginia Governor’s Race,” NBC News, Oct. 26, 2017; “The Obsession With White Voters Could Cost Democrats the Virginia Governor’s Race,” The Nation, Oct. 23, 2017)
- In New Orleans criminal court, arrestees in orange jumpsuits wait to be heard by Magistrate Judge John Cantrell. Those appearing in court face charges ranging from drug possession, to domestic violence and car theft. Judge Cantrell has lot of discretion in granting bail, but he rarely releases a prisoner without imposing a $2500 dollar bond. The bail imposed, unaffordable to many poor defendants, forces many to sit in jail for months awaiting trial. (“America Is Waking Up to the Injustice of Cash Bail,” The Nation, Oct. 19, 2017)
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