July 2013 - Page 4 of 7 - Toward Freedom

LGBTI Africa: Cameroon’s “Gay Scare”

Eric O. Lembembe July 17, 2013 Eric O. Lembembe

Editor’s note: We are saddened to report that the author of this article, Eric O. Lembembe, was violently murdered and found dead in his home in Cameroon’s capital city of Yaoundéon Monday, July 15, just one day after The Indypendent went to press. This piece is one of the last ones that Eric wrote before his death.

Human Rights Watch reports that Eric’s friends discovered his body after being unable to reach him over the weekend. According to one friend, Eric’s body showed signs of torture: his neck and feet appeared to have been broken, and his face, hands, and feet had been burned with a clothes iron. read more

Third Phase of the Egyptian Revolution: Is this the Path to War?

Horace G. Campbell July 17, 2013 Horace G. Campbell

This phase of the revolution will require clarity from those who understand that the future of Egypt depends on the conscious and organized action of the people to avoid open warfare. The agents of militarism are ready to use the excuse of violence and security to hijack the will of the people.

A World Citizen Passport and Edward Snowden’s Catch 22

Rene Wadlow July 17, 2013 Rene Wadlow

To break out of Edward Snowden’s Catch 22 situation, a world citizen passport was issued to Snowden on July 7th by Garry Davis, the president of the World Government of World Citizens.

White Supremacy Acquits George Zimmerman

Aura Bogado July 15, 2013 Aura Bogado

Source: The Nation

A jury has found George Zimmerman not guilty of all charges in connection to death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. But while the verdict came as a surprise to some people, it makes perfect sense to others. This verdict is a crystal-clear illustration of the way white supremacy operates in America.

Throughout the trial, the media repeatedly referred to an “all-woman jury” in that Seminole County courtroom, adding that most of them were mothers. That is true—but so is that five of the six jurors were white, and that is profoundly significant for cases like this one. We also know that the lone juror of color was seen apparently wiping a tear during the prosecution’s rebuttal yesterday. But that tear didn’t ultimately convince her or the white people on that jury that Zimmerman was guilty of anything. Not guilty. Not after stalking, shooting and killing a black child, a child that the defense insultingly argued was “armed with concrete.” read more

Open Letter to Edward Snowden: Ten Reasons Why You Should Beat It to Venezuela

Roger Burbach July 15, 2013 Roger Burbach

It is understandable that you are requesting temporary asylum in Russia, given the determination of President Obama to mount an international crusade to apprehend you and throw you in prison. But here are ten reasons why it is in your interest, and the world's, to find a route to Venezuela as soon as possible.

ElBaradei’s Democracy: How Egypt’s ‘Revolution’ Betrayed Itself

Ramzy Baroud July 10, 2013 Ramzy Baroud

“The revolution is dead. Long live the revolution,” wrote Eric Walberg, a Middle East political expert and author, shortly after the Egyptian military overthrew the country’s democratically elected President Mohammed Morsi on July 3. But more accurately, the revolution was killed in an agonizingly slow death, and the murders were too many to count.