92-year-old black woman sues just hours after North Carolina gov. signs voter ID law

By David Edwards/Raw Story

Just hours after North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) signed a sweeping voter ID measure into law, a 92-year-old African-American woman has sued the state claiming that her constitutional rights had been violated.

At a bill signing with no formal ceremony on Monday, McCrory quietly signed the Republican bill that will require a voters to present a government-issued ID, cuts early voting days, stops same-day registration, ends “straight ticket” party voting, makes it harder for students to vote and gives poll watchers new powers for challenging voters.

The first lawsuit, filed by the NAACP, says that 92-year-old Rosanell Eaton will be disenfranchised after voting for 70 years.

Mrs. Eaton, who was born at home, has a current North Carolina driver’s license, but the name on her certified birth certificate does not match the name on her driver’s license or the name on her voter registration card,” the lawsuit notes. “Mrs. Eaton will incur substantial time and expense to correct her identification documents to match her voter registration record in order to meet the new requirements.”

In a statement on Monday, Advancement Project Director Penda Hair pointed out that North Carolina was the first state to sign a “discriminatory voting law” since the Supreme Court struck down parts of the Voting Rights Act.

“With the stroke of his pen, Gov. McCrory has transformed North Carolina from a state with one of the nation’s most progressive voting systems, where we saw some of the highest voter turnout rates of the last two presidential elections, into a state with the most draconian policies we’ve seen in decades, policies that harken back to the days of Jim Crow,” Hair explained.

The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of North Carolina Legal Foundation, and the Southern Coalition for Social Justice filed a second lawsuit targeting provisions that suppress early voting, voter registration and “out-of-precinct” voting.

In a video posted to YouTube on Monday, McCrory argued that he had enacted “common-sense reforms.”

“Many of those from the extreme left who have been criticizing photo ID are using scare tactics,” McCory asserted. “They are more interested in divisive politics than ensuring that no one’s vote is disenfranchised by a fraudulent ballot.”

Rosanell Eaton was expected to appear at a press conference on Tuesday with state NAACP President Rev. William Barber and other plaintiffs.

Watch this video from WRAL, broadcast Aug. 13, 2013.

Watch this video from Gov. Pat McCrory, broadcast Aug. 12, 2013.

Watch this video from Rev. William Barber, broadcast July 16, 2013.

 

 by Taboola

Actress in anti-Islam movie sues filmmaker for slander

By Eric W. Dolan/Raw Story

An actress who appears in a crude anti-Islam movie is suing its creator for fraud and slander, according to the Associated Press.

The film “Innocence of Muslims” has sparked riots in the Middle East over its offensive depiction of the Prophet Muhammad. The film was reportedly produced by Nakoula Basseley Nakoula and directed by a pornographer.

Actress Cindy Lee Garcia sued Nakoula on Wednesday, alleging that Nakoula misled her about the true nature of the controversial film.

Garcia previously told Gawker that the film was originally titled Desert Warriors and was purportedly about the life of an Egyptian man living 2,000 years ago. But many of the casts’ lines were dubbed over in post-production to make the film into the crude anti-Islam film that was later published on the Internet.

“The entire cast and crew are extremely upset and feel taken advantage of by the producer. We are 100% not behind this film and were grossly misled about its intent and purpose,” eighty of the film’s cast and crew members said in a statement. “We are shocked by the drastic re-writes of the script and lies that were told to all involved. We are deeply saddened by the tragedies that have occurred.”

Garcia said she had been forced into hiding because of the film and has received death threats.

Garcia has also sued Google in an attempt to remove the video from YouTube. Google has denied access to the video in Malaysia, Indonesia, Libya, Egypt and India.

Levin Threatens Matthews With Phony Defamation Suit Despite His Own Serial Defamation Of Media Matters

From Media Matters

Right-wing radio host Mark Levin is reportedly "threatening to sue Chris Matthews" for saying that radio hosts like Levin play a "role" in "fueling the heated language" because they "are furious" and regularly engage in "ugly talk." Levin, however, regularly engages in defamation of Media Matters, among many others.

Report: Levin "Threatens To Sue Chris Matthews, MSNBC Lineup"

Huffington Post: "Levin Is Threatening To Sue Chris Matthews And Anyone Else Who He Feels Is Accusing Him Of ... Foment[ing] Political Violence." In a January 14 item, Huffington Post reported:

Conservative radio host Mark Levin is threatening to sue Chris Matthews and anyone else who he feels is accusing him of having helped foment to political violence.

The impetus for Levin's threat was a statement Matthews made about him on his Tuesday show. Matthews had cited him and fellow right wing radio host Michael Savage as examples of incendiary media figures promoting ugly rhetoric--something that has come under scrutiny in the wake of the Arizona shootings.

[...]

In response, Levin laid down a challenge to Matthews.

"I challenge Chris Matthews, I'll put $100,000 on the table, to find any example where Sarah Palin has promoted the murder of anybody," Levin said, though he added that calling for the killing of terrorists didn't count.

"A hundred thousand on the table if Chris Matthews can find anywhere Mark Levin has urged the murder of people who have different political viewpoints," he said.

He then threatened to sue not only Matthews, but practically all of MSNBC's biggest hosts, if he felt they had made any allegations against him. [Huffington Post, 1/14/11]

Levin Regularly Attacks "Criminal[s]," "Morons," And "Jerks" atMedia Matters On Air

Levin Attacks "Hacks" At "Criminal Front Group" Media Matters. On the February 4, 2010, edition of his radio show, Levin called Media Matters a "criminal front group," and said "we don't care about them because they're just hacks." [Citadel Media, The Mark Levin Show, 2/4/10]

Levin Attacks The "Perverts" At "Hate-Machine" Media Matters. During his November 5, 2009, show, Levin attacked "the Saul Alinsky tactics of Media Matters, which is not a charitable organization, which is not a nonpartisan organization, it's a hate-machine paid for by the Democrats, and subsidized by you because they have a tax-exempt status." He said, "I think most of the people who work at Media Matters, frankly, are perverts. Do I know this for a fact? No. But to write a story like this, I think your head's in the gutter, Eric Hanahanahanaku" (attacking Media Matters' Eric Hananoki). [Citadel Media,The Mark Levin Show, 11/5/09]

Levin Attacks "Morons" And "Jerks" At Media Matters. During the his September 9, 2009, show, Levin called President Obama a "jerk" and an "an incompetent boob," adding, "And you morons atMedia Matters, the criminal front group, make sure you write down every damn thing I say and send it all over the world. I said it here, let's hear it everywhere, you jerks." [Citadel Media, The Mark Levin Show,9/9/09]

Levin "Salute[s]" The "Criminal Enterprise" Media Matters For Being "Upset" At Pelosi, Sotomayor Smears. During his July 28, 2009, show, Levin said "we want to salute the criminal enterprise otherwise known as Media Matters, the Soros front group. The criminal enterprise is very upset that I called Nancy Pelosi, Nancy 'Stretch' Pelosi, with those ping pall eyes of hers -- ping ball eyes -- ready to pop out. They're also very mad that I said [Supreme Court Justice Sonia] Sotomayor -- I read the list of things that they're attacking me on, I was cracking myself up -- I said Sotomayor is Ruth Bader Ginsburg plus 50 pounds. That was a good line. Don't you think Mr. Producer? I liked it." [Citadel Media, The Mark Levin Show, 7/28/09]

Levin Attacks Media Matters As "The Thought Police." During his November 14, 2008, show, Levin said:

Meanwhile, Media Matters for America is a tax-exempt nonprofit, nonpartisan group, so it says under penalty of perjury. You as a citizen are free to write to the Internal Revenue Service and ask them to conduct an investigation of Media Matters. And if I'm of the mind, I will pursue this with you further, giving out addresses and so forth. Right now, I've got more important things to do. But we will fight back on this program. We're not gonna roll over for the -- for the thought police, for the anti-free speech types. We're not gonna let them just push through the censorship doctrine or anything else they try to do through the back door. We're gonna fight them, we're gonna name names, and we're gonna demand legal action and the enforcement of the law against tax-exempt groups that use, in essence, taxpayers' money to promote vile politics of the sort that Media Matters does. [Citadel Media's The Mark Levin Show, 11/13/08]

Levin: Media Matters' Brock "Obviously Flipped Out." In 2004, Levin said:

By the way, folks, we're gonna keep an eye on all these lib organizations and who's funding them, and if they won't tell us, we will ask them. Media Matters for America[www.mediamatters].org, I'd like to know who funds them. We know George Soros is one of them. It's basically a front group for John Kerry. If you go to their website -- only attacks conservatives, only attacks Republicans. I urge you to go there and look. And they distort what people say. We're going to start our own monitoring system and we're going to monitor them. I know David Brock, who used to, who runs that group. He used to come into my office and ask me for information, which I happily gave him. Was a nice guy, and he obviously flipped out. Everybody's a liar and he's gonna monitor everybody, even though he said he was a liar. Exactly. We're going to monitor these boys and girls over there. [WABC, The Mark Levin Show, 8/17/04]

Levin's Obsession With Media Matters Extends Beyond His Radio Show

Levin: "Feminism Front Group Media Matters Also Staffed With Illiterate Clowns." Levin wrote in a tweet: "Feminism front group Media Matters also staffed with illiterate clowns. http://bit.ly/ccNltHhttp://fb.me/HUEWi3yC." [Twitter, 10/17/10]

Levin: "I'm Sure The Criminal Front Group - Media Matters - Will Get Right On" Rick Sanchez Lack Of Apology To Rush. Levin wrote in a tweet: "I'm sure the Criminal front group - Media Matters - will get right on this! http://bit.ly/d5hWR9 http://fb.me/uJ8N2ROg." [Twitter, 10/7/10] Levin Pens "Media Matters: Criminal Front Group." Levin wrote a Facebook notetitled "Media Matters: Criminal front group," which alleged that Media Matters is "a criminal front group. The IRS needs to audit them to determine the extent of its evasions." [Facebook.com, 10/7/10] Levin: "Criminal Front Group Media Matters. Useless Idiots." Levin wrote in a tweet: "Criminal front group Media Matters. Useless idiots. http://bit.ly/a6Cjh4 http://fb.me/L9drbFgN." [Twitter, 10/6/10]

Levin: "The Bastard Who Funds The Bastards At Criminal Front Group Media Matters." Levin wrote in a tweet: "The bastard who funds the bastards at criminal front group Media Mattershttp://bit.ly/aAXd7d http://fb.me/xMChWsj2/." [Twitter, 9/18/10]

Levin: "Media Matters - Mouthpiece For Tyranny. Hence, The Infinite Lies." Levin wrote in a tweet: "Media Matters - mouthpiece for tyranny. Hence, the infinite lies.... http://fb.me/ClSfHyuE." [Twitter, 7/4/10]

Levin: "Media Matters - The Criminal Front Group That Endlessly Peddles Lies." Levin wrote in a tweet: "Media Matters - the criminal front group that endlessly peddles lies...http://fb.me/CGRTHGBN." [Twitter, 7/28/10]

Levin: "Fecal Head Eric Boehlert." Levin wrote a Facebook post linking to a photo of Media Matters' Eric Boehlert, stating: "Fecal head Eric Boehlert, 'senior fellow' at George Soros's hate machine Media Matters -- can you guess which one he is? No, not the one on the right." [Facebook.com, 5/24/10]

M.C.L comment: The only people Levin should be suing are the people that got his balls are in a vise grip..

Ousted USDA employee Sherrod plans to sue Breitbart

By The Associated Press

Ousted USDA employee Shirley Sherrod says she will sue conservative blogger over edited video

Ousted Agriculture Department employee Shirley Sherrod said Thursday she will sue a conservative blogger who posted an edited video of her making racially tinged remarks last week.

Sherrod made the announcement in San Diego at the National Association of Black Journalists annual convention.

The edited video posted by Andrew Breitbart led Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to ask her to resign, a decision he reconsidered after seeing the entire video of her March speech to a local NAACP group. In the full speech, Sherrod spoke of racial reconciliation and lessons she learned after initially hesitating to help a white farmer save his home.

Vilsack and President Barack Obama later called Sherrod to apologize for her hasty ouster. Vilsack has offered her a new job at the department, which she is still considering.

Obama said Thursday morning on ABC's daytime talk show "The View" that the incident shows racial tensions still exist in America.

"There are still inequalities out there. There's still discrimination out there," Obama said. "But we've made progress."

Obama pinned much of the blame for the incident on a media culture that he said seeks out conflict and doesn't always get the facts right. But he added, "A lot of people overreacted, including people in my administration."

Democracy Now! journalists sue police, Secret Service over ‘violent’ RNC arrests

By Stephen C. Webster

For what she called her "violent" arrest outside the 2008 Republican National Convention (RNC), journalist and author Amy Goodman has joined with The Center for Constitutional Rights in filing a federal lawsuit against police and the Secret Service, issuing a stark challenge to policies governing their treatment of protesters.

Goodman said her producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar were injured as police took them to the ground, with Salazar's nose bloodied and Kouddous's arm severely twisted. The whole time, they were demanding police not place them under arrest, shouting "Press! Press!" and waiving their media badges.

Instead, Goodman told RAW STORY during a Thursday conference call that unnamed Secret Service agents "ripped the credentials from around our necks" and police removed the batteries from their cameras, "which makes it very clear what they were after."

The YouTube video of Goodman's arrest quickly became the most popular clip on the site in the 2008 RNC's first days.

"I think that's what freed us after a number of hours," she told reporters.

"Goodman v. St. Paul seeks compensation and an injunction against law enforcement’s unjustified encroachment on First Amendment rights, including freedom of the press and the independence of the media," The Center for Constitutional Rights summarized in an advisory.

"Attorneys say the government cannot limit journalists’ right to cover matters of public concern by requiring that they present a particular perspective; for instance, the government cannot require journalists to “embed” with state authorities," they continued. "Goodman further asserts that the government cannot, in the name of security, limit the flow of information by acting unwarrantedly against journalists who report on speech protected by the First Amendment, such as dissent, and the public acts of law enforcement."

"The media are the eyes and ears of the American people—that is why there are laws to protect them," CCR attorney Anjana Samant added. "Law enforcement and Secret Service agents are not exempt from those laws in their dealings with un-embedded journalists who are documenting peaceful protestors or law enforcement’s use of force and violence against those protestors [sic]."

"While most protesters demonstrated peacefully, some engaged in property damage, slashing car tires, throwing bottles, tipping trash bins and breaking windows of cars and buildings," Democracy Now! reported shortly after the arrests. "One of the broken windows came in the building that houses Saint Paul Neighborhood Network—that’s SPNN —where Democracy Now! is broadcasting from this week.

"But police used harsh tactics, including chemical irritants, to disperse everyone, even those protesters who remained peaceful. Officers in riot gear fired teargas, pepper spray, rubber bullets in a series of standoffs around the downtown St. Paul area."

Police arrested 283 people during the RNC's opening day and had in the weeks prior been engaging in targeted harassment of activists. Over 800 arrests were made during the convention. The New York Times noted that an estimated 50 of those detained were journalists.

Said Goodman: "Democracy is a messy thing and it's our job to capture it all. We shouldn't have to get a record to put things on the record."

This video of Amy Goodman's arrest is from outside the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, published to YouTube on Sept. 1, 2008.

This video of Nicole Salazar's arrest is from outside the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, published to YouTube on Sept. 2, 2008.

This video of the 2008 RNC protests was captured by protesters on the scene and features some narration by a reporter from Minnesota citizen journalism outlet The Uptake, published Sept. 3, 2008.

eaten sedition and disrupt anything they want and no one gets arrested? The double standard of arresting left wing protestors is patently obvious.