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Low-Wage Workers Organize Largest Nationwide Protest to Push for $15 Minimum Wage
Interview with Sarah Jaffe, journalist & fellow at The Nation Institute, conducted by Scott Harris
In more than 220 cities across the U.S., some 60,000 low-wage workers and their supporters joined marches and protests on April 1 to demand a $15 minimum hourly wage. The action, where many workers walked off their jobs, is said to be the largest protest by low-wage workers in U.S. history. Employees from fast food restaurants and retail stores, well as home healthcare aides and childcare workers participated in the day of action, which was primarily organized by the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU. Story continues
On Fifth Anniversary of Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, All is Not Well in the Gulf
Interview with Wilma Subra, chemist and winner of a MacArthur “genius” grant, conducted by Melinda Tuhus
This year, April 20 marked the fifth anniversary of British Petroleum’s Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, which killed 11 workers and spilled an estimated 5 million barrels – or 210 million gallons – of oil into Gulf waters. The oil gushed for almost three months before being capped on July 15 and was finally sealed on Sept. 19, 2010. Story continues
‘Populism 2015’ Conference Crafts Progressive Agenda to Influence 2016 Presidential Election Debate
Interview with Isaiah Poole, editor of the Campaign for America’s Future blog, conducted by Scott Harris
A three-day conference called “Populism 2015,” held in Washington, D.C. April 18-20, attracted 1,000 activists, organizers and progressive elected officials. The primary sponsors of the event were progressive activist groups, Campaign for America’s Future, National People’s Action, U.S. Action and Alliance for a Just Society. Story continues
This week’s summary of under-reported news
Compiled by Bob Nixon
- In a major setback for the two-year Colombia peace process, President Juan Manuel Santos renewed aerial bombing against the camps of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. (“Killing of 10 soldiers deals setback of Colombia peace talks,” New York Times, April 15, 2015;“Colombia peace process rattled by deadly guerilla attack,” Miami Herald, April 15, 2015)
- A year after the brazen kidnapping of 279 school girls in northern Nigeria by Boko Haram fighters, Rev. Enoch Mark is still waiting for word about his daughter who was taken from her dormitory in the village of Chibok. (“Chibok kidnapping: stoicism as girls taken by Boko Haram are remembered,” Guardian, April 15, 2015; “#BringBackOurGirls hasn’t brought back Chibok’s girls but it has changed Nigeria’s politics,”Guardian, April 15, 2015; “Year after school girls taken, report catalogs Boko Haram Atrocities,” LA Times, April 14, 2015)
- Days after a grand jury failed to indict Ferguson Police officer Darren Wilson for killing unarmed African American teenager Michael Brown, hundreds of Chicago activists marched to the upscale Wicker Park neighborhood on Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of 2014. (“Who do you protect, who do you surveil?” In These Times, April 6, 2015)