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In the wake of the successful pushback against the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure’s decision to defund Planned Parenthood, the Obama administration should listen to the majority of Americans: The United States, including Catholics, is strongly pro-choice.
DN! in the News
Democracy Now! Host Amy Goodman joined a panel of journalists, analysts and academics on MSNBC’s "Up w/ Chris Hayes" to discuss topics of the day, ranging from the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Planned Parenthood reversal to the Republican Primaries.
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Part 2: "Who Killed Che? How the CIA Got Away with Murder": New Book Ties Johnson Admin to Che Death
In an extended interview, co-authors Michael Ratner and Michael Steven Smith discuss the life of Cuban revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara and the chilling story behind his murder by the Bolivian military. In their book, "Who Killed Che?" Ratner and Smith draw on previously unpublished U.S. government documents to argue the CIA played a critical role in the killing. [includes rush transcript]
Watch a 2011 interview with Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzón, who is on trial in Spain after right-wing groups objected to his investigation of atrocities committed by supporters of the dictator Francisco Franco. Garzón is known for seeking to indict members of the Bush administration for their role in torturing prisoners.
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Renowned South African poet and activist Dennis Brutus died in his sleep on December 26th in Cape Town. He was 85 years old.
Brutus was a leading opponent of the apartheid state. He helped secure South Africa’s suspension from the Olympics, eventually forcing the country to be expelled from the Games in 1970. Arrested in 1963, he was sentenced to eighteen months of hard labor on Robben Island, off Cape Town, with Nelson Mandela.
"In his last days, Brutus was fully engaged, advocating social protest against those responsible for climate change, and promoting reparations to black South Africans from corporations that benefited from apartheid," writes Patrick Bond. "The memory of Dennis Brutus will remain everywhere there is struggle against injustice. Uniquely courageous, consistent and principled, Brutus bridged the global and local, politics and culture, class and race, the old and the young, the red and green...Given his role as a world-class poet, Brutus showed that social justice advocates can have both bread and roses."
Dennis Brutus was a frequent guest on Democracy Now! over the years. A collection of his appearances is listed below.
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Federal Appeals Court Hears Arguments in Landmark Apartheid Reparations Case
January 12, 2010 | StoryA landmark case against several international corporations accused of aiding South Africa’s apartheid regime is underway. The companies include Daimler AG, General Motors, Ford Motor Company and IBM. They are accused in a class-action lawsuit of complicity in human rights abuses during the years they did business in apartheid South Africa. The suit was filed several years ago by black victims of white minority rule. Their lawyers are seeking up to $400 billion in compensation. [includes rush transcript]
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Dennis Brutus (1924-2009): South African Poet and Activist Dies in Cape Town
December 28, 2009 | StoryRenowned South African poet and activist Dennis Brutus died in his sleep Saturday in Cape Town. He was eighty-five years old. Brutus was a leading opponent of the apartheid state and was imprisoned with Nelson Mandela on Robben Island. We hear highlights of an interview with Brutus on Democracy Now! and speak with his close friend and colleague, Patrick Bond. [includes rush transcript]
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Following Factional Dispute Within ANC, Thabo Mbeki Resigns as South African President
September 23, 2008 | StoryIn South Africa, the deputy leader of the African National Congress has been chosen to serve as interim president following the resignation of Thabo Mbeki. Mbeki resigned on Sunday over allegations of interference in a corruption case against political rival and current ANC leader Jacob Zuma. We speak to South African poet and activist Dennis Brutus. [includes rush transcript]
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Landmark Case Returns to NY Seeking Millions from Corporations that Profited from South African Apartheid
July 08, 2008 | StoryA landmark case is returning to a New York district court that seeks millions of dollars in reparations from corporations that supported and profited from South African apartheid. The suit is filed on behalf of thousands of apartheid victims under the Alien Tort Claims Act. It seeks damages from the companies for doing business with the apartheid government despite international sanctions and boycotts. The companies include the oil giants BP and ExxonMobil, banks such as Citigroup and UBS, and the car giants General Motors and Ford Motor. We speak with South African poet and activist, Dennis Brutus. [includes rush transcript]
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South African Poet and Anti-Apartheid Activist Dennis Brutus on Atlanta Social Forum and South Africa’s Changing Political Landscape
June 29, 2007 | StoryA veteran of several World Social Forums, the South African poet and anti-apartheid activist Dennis Brutus talks about why he’s come to Atlanta and addresses growing upheaval in South Africa where the ruling ANC government is being criticized for continuing apartheid’s economic legacy. [includes rush transcript]
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South African Activist Dennis Brutus Calls on Barclays Bank to Pay Reparations for Apartheid Profits
June 16, 2005 | StoryWe speak with South African poet and activist Dennis Brutus who recently initiated the launch of a campaign against Barclays Bank, demanding reparations for vast apartheid profits. [includes rush transcript]
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South African Poet and Activist Dennis Brutus: "People Globally Are Deeply Unhappy" with Bush’s Reelection
November 19, 2004 | StoryWe speak with renowned South African poet, activist and professor, Dennis Brutus Bush’s reelection, Haitian President Aristide’s exile to South Africa, the IMF and much more. [includes rush transcript]
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As Bush Travels to South Africa We Hear From Nelson Mandela, Poet and Activist Dennis Brutus, Greg Palast and Others
July 09, 2003 | StoryBreaking precedent, Bush is not seeking to speak with Mandela. We’ll go back to January to hear Mandela say Bush "cannot think properly " and that the invasion of Iraq was "the greatest mistake of his life." And we go to the streets of Pretoria where thousands are protesting Bush’s arrival.
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South African Poet and Activist Dennis Brutus Discusses Racism and Global Trade in the Newlight of Terrorism
November 05, 2001 | StoryIn apartheid South Africa of the 60s, Dennis Brutus was an outspoken activist against the racist state. He helpedsecure South Africa’s suspension from the Olympics, eventually forcing the country to be expelled from the games in1970. He was arrested in 1963 and sentenced to 18 months of hard labor on Robben Island off Capetown, with NelsonMandela. Brutus was banned from teaching, writing, and publishing in South Africa. His first collection of poetry,
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Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe Speaks to Crowded House in Harlem
September 08, 2000 | StoryZimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe is in New York for the UN Millennium Summit. Last night, he stepped away from the formal festivities of the largest gathering of world leaders in history and headed to Harlem. There at the Mount Olivet Baptist Church, he received thunderous applause from an audience of more than 1,000 people.
