News Releases

  • Some Universities Negotiate with Gaza Solidarity Groups, Some Attack Them

    Cindy and Craig Corrie are the parents of Rachel Corrie who was run over by an Israeli bulldozer as she tried to protect a Palestinian home in Rafah in 2003. They are the president and treasurer of the board of directors of the Rachel Corrie Foundation. They recently appeared on “Democracy Now”; NPR recently ran a story about Rachel’s killing. Rachel graduated from The Evergreen State College, which recently agreed to student demands to negotiate about divesting from Israel. See from Newsweek: “Colleges Are Moving to Divest From Israel.” While the U.S. and Israeli governments keep insisting that Israel is…


  • Israel Refuses to Stop Attacks, Escalates Against Rafah

    AP reports: “Hamas accepts Gaza cease-fire; Israel says it will continue talks but presses on with Rafah attacks.” AFP reports: “Israel Hostage Families Urge Foreign Pressure for Gaza Truce.” Common Dreams reports: “Cutting Off Lifeline for Starving Gazans, Israel Seizes Control of Rafah Crossing” Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor just released the statement: “Gaza: With its potential military operation in Rafah, Israel threatens to execute over 1.2 million Palestinians.” Norwegian Refugee Council released: “Rafah: An Israeli military offensive will lead to mass atrocities.”


  • Hidden Realities of “School Choice”

    In states where the school choice movement has been successful, voucher programs have led to huge shortfalls in education budgets.


  • “School Choice” Legislation is Reshaping the U.S.

    The number of states that are enacting “school choice” legislation is increasing. Last year, 17 states set up new programs or expanded existing ones.


  • “A Nationwide Spree of Police Violence”

    “There is only one cause for the violence taking place. It is law enforcement and the officials who have chosen to resort to state violence when faced with peaceful protests. There is no justification for police violence against peaceful protests. And there is no excuse for the college administrators who willfully chose to call the police on their own students in order to suppress their expressive conduct. …


  • “The Conflation of Anti-Zionism with Anti-Semitism is Absurd”

    “The conflation of anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism is absurd. All the arguments of Palestinians against Jewish nationalist domination of Palestine were first raised by American Jewish leaders, before the ‘Zionizing’ of American Jewish organizations. Donor pressure by Zionist donors and evangelical Christian Zionists are forcing this historically illiterate declaration, independent of facts, and of the diverse positions of American Jews.”


  • Attacks on Students

        Greene is a graduate student at Indiana University. He states that peaceful protesters in a tent were met with snipers on the roof, dozens of arrests, violence by state troopers with military equipment, helicopters and drones. He said: “The real reason they repress us is that we are supporting a movement that is against genocide. The reason students are so passionate is that this is nothing compared to what is going on in Gaza. At least we have universities. Israel has blown up university after university in Gaza.” He has been suspended for five years. He was just interviewed by Katie…


  • Deceits Keep Israeli Attacks Going

    See Jewish Voice for Peace statement on university and other protests: “We’re fighting to stop a genocide. Slanders against our movements are a distraction.” The Daily Beast reports on Northeastern University going after anit-genocide protesters: “Pro-Israel Agitator Shouts ‘Kill the Jews,’ Gets Everyone Else Arrested.”


  • Homeless Targeted as Billions Go to War

    McHenry said today: “HUD claims they can end homelessness for $20 billion and we just sent” billions for war to Ukraine and Israel. “This while 78 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. We in California defeated SB 1011, the statewide ban on sleeping outside on public land. The Supreme Court will decide whether banning homeless people from sleeping outside when there is a lack of shelter space is deemed cruel and unusual punishment.”


  • University Protests

    “During the hearing, you were asked about the political views of specific professors and encouraged to take disciplinary action, including termination, against them. Such clear retaliation for First-Amendment protected speech would be prohibited at a state institution. Although Columbia University is a private institution not governed by the First Amendment, the role of state actors — in this case members of Congress — in instigating the action would raise serious First Amendment concerns. Even if the First Amendment could not be found to apply, it would still be a serious breach of norms of academic freedom.”


  • This Month Will End in an Uproar About the WTO: Here’s Why

    When the World Trade Organization global summit gets underway on Nov. 30 in Seattle, President Clinton and other top officials will be confronted by large protests there. Among the WTO critics now available for comment are: JULIE LIGHT “While 134 governments make up the WTO, it is transnational corporations that increasingly influence and benefit from…

  • Egyptair Crash: Interviews Available

    PAUL HUDSON Paul Hudson is executive director of the Aviation Consumer Action Project, which last week issued a statement entitled “Skies Less Safe” accusing the FAA and DOT of “actively engag[ing] in major programs and actions aimed at reducing existing levels of safety and security.” That statement specifically cited “FAA failure to act to eliminate…

  • “Banking Reform”?

    The Clinton administration, the Republican congressional leadership and the financial services industry all seem to agree on the Gramm-Leach Act. If it becomes law, the legislation would abolish restrictions on banks, securities firms and insurance companies instituted in the aftermath of the Great Depression. Critics charge that — like the Telecommunications Act of 1996 —…

  • Behind the Budget Battles: Probing Basic Assumptions

    WASHINGTON — While the White House and Congress struggle over the federal budget, some policy analysts are questioning key assumptions in the debate. Sociologist Abby Scher and economist Jared Bernstein are available for interviews to discuss underlying issues: ABBY SCHER “Since the late 1970s, Congress has directed more of the federal budget away from social…

  • Money on Wall Street, Money in Politics

    Wall Street is continuing a downward slide this fall, and some economists believe that policymakers in Washington are remaining unrealistically upbeat. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Dole’s withdrawal from the GOP presidential race has sparked more debate on campaign finance issues. The following policy analysts are available for interviews. Wall Street: Realism Needed DEAN BAKER “The stock market…

  • Responses Available From Supporters of WTO Protests Wecomed by Clinton

    Speaking at a news conference this afternoon, President Clinton said that he is not concerned about the massive protests planned for the World Trade Organization global summit when it convenes in Seattle in late November. The following policy analysts who support those protests are available for comment: SARAH ANDERSON “It’s great that he’s welcoming protesters…

  • Coup in Pakistan and Nuclear Test Ban

    GORDON S. CLARK The executive director of the grassroots American organization Peace Action, Clark said Wednesday: “The military coup in Pakistan dramatically underscores the need for the nuclear test ban treaty. Will we be more secure or less secure with countries like Pakistan developing nuclear weapons? Because that is exactly what is going to happen…

  • Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty: Hope or Sham?

    TED TAYLOR Former deputy director of the Defense Atomic Support Agency in the Pentagon, an architect for decades of the U.S. nuclear program and now an independent consultant on nuclear issues and critic of U.S. nuclear policy, Taylor said: “I’m strongly in favor of the treaty, but not the Clinton administration interpretation of what it…

  • MCI-Sprint Merger

    JAMES LOVE Director of the Consumer Project on Technology, Love said: “The merger is an attempt to avoid competition. Sprint plays an important role in servicing resellers in the long distance market, smaller companies that buy bandwidth from the big three. For twenty years, you’ve had these three major players. Prices have gone down because…

  • Health Care: More Uninsured

    QUENTIN YOUNG, M.D. The national coordinator of Physicians for a National Health Program, which today released an analysis of Census data figures, Young said: “The number of uninsured climbed by 833,000 to 44.3 million in 1998, according to data released by the Census Bureau. Though the Census Bureau claimed that children’s health coverage had not…

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