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> Tue., June. 21, 2005
FSRN
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Today's lead stories:
Edgar Ray Killen Convicted for Civil Rights Workers Murders
House Approves $409-Billion Pentagon Budget
Connecticut Military Base Closing Threatens Environment and
Community
Democrats Stage Another Successful Filibuster Against Bolton
UN Commission of Experts Evaluates Human Rights Tribunal in
East Timor
Bio Democracy in Philadelphia
Demonstrations Against Proposed Cuts to CPB
FSRN Headlines
A guilty verdict is issued in the trial of former Ku Klux
Klan member, Edgar Ray Killan. The jury convicted Killan of
manslaughter, which are lesser charges, after less than two
days of deliberations for killing three civil rights activists
in 1964. Today also marks the 41st anniversary of the murders.
80 year old Killan will face up to 20 years in jail. FSRN
will have more on this story later in the newscast.
Former leader of the Lebanese Community Party, George Hawi
was assassinated in a car bomb in the Kola district of Beirut
today. The violence comes one day after the win of Hariri,
of the anti-Syrian party. FSRN's Stefan Christoff reports
from Beirut.
Orphanage in Kenya seeking aid after US dismantled US Muslim
based charity funds it. Anchors lead: A freeze on funds raised
by an Islamic charity by the Us government has crippled the
activities of an orphanage in Kenya. Joshua Kyalimpa reports
from neighboring Uganda.
The Zapatistas are on red alert in the Chiapas Region of
Mexico. Reports say that the Caracoles and the Good Government
sections of the leftist movement have gone into hiding and
their radio station "Radio Insurgente" has gone
off air and they have left all social services in the hands
of the citizens. The Zapatistas have been quiet since their
revolution more than a decade ago where they demanded services
for the people and equality. They have left no reason why
they have gone on Red Alert.
A bill introduced by a New York Congressman aims to ease
immigration policy for same sex couples. Lauren Cruickshank
and Sue Kim report.
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Edgar Ray Killen Convicted for Civil Rights Workers
Murders (3:32)
Former Ku Klux Klan leader Edgar Ray Killen has been found
guilty of manslaughter in the deaths of James Cheney, Andrew
Goodman and Michael Schwerner, three civil rights workers
killed in Mississippi in 1964. The bodies of the civil rights
workers were found beaten and shot in Philadelphia, Mississippi.
The three had arrived in the town to investigate the burning
of a church that was being used to register black voters,
where they were brutally murdered by the KKK. Killen, who
is now 80 years old, was the only person ever indicted in
the case, but he was not brought to trial for over 40 years.
Killen faces up to 60 years in prison for his participation
in the murders. David Dennis was the Assistant Program Director
for the Mississippi Freedom Summer Project. On August 7, 1964,
Dennis addressed the crowd at 21-year-old black Mississippian's
James Cheney's memorial. [ CUT ] David Dennis, at the Memorial
Service for 21-year-old civil rights worker James Cheney,
who was murdered by the KKK in 1964. Carolyn Goodman is the
mother of civil rights worker Andrew Goodman, one of the Klan's
three victims. She lives in New York City and spoke with FSRN
about sense of justice she now feels. [ CUT ] Carolyn, do
you think that this case set a precedent for race relations?
[ CUT 2 ] Carolyn Goodman is the mother of Andrew Goodman.
One of the perpetrators in his murder, Edgar Ray Killen, was
found guilty of manslaughter in Philadelphia, Mississippi
today.
[top]
House Approves $409-Billion Pentagon Budget
(2:16)
The House of Representatives approved a $409-billion budget
for the Pentagon last night that included, without request
from the Bush administration, an additional $45-billion for
military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Also included
in the bill are additional funds for the continued US military
presence in Uzbekistan. An amendment to the Pentagon's budget
to cease all funding to Uzbekistan because of gross human
rights violations and the recent massacre of hundreds of protesters
was easily defeated. Mitch Jeserich has more from Capitol
Hill.
[top]
Connecticut Military Base Closing Threatens Environment
and Community (3:50)
The US Defense Department's Base Realignment and Closure,
or BRAC, Commission, proposed closing dozens of military facilities
across the country last month as a cost-saving move. The BRAC
Commission determined the list based on the military value
of the facilities. The Navy Submarine Base in New London,
Connecticut - the oldest sub base in the country - is the
biggest facility proposed for closure, in terms of personnel,
with between 8,500 and 10,000 jobs lost if the base closes.
While politicians across the state have made saving the base
their highest priority, the proposed closure has brought the
issue of environmental contamination on the base to the forefront.
Melinda Tuhus reports.
[top]
Democrats Stage Another Successful Filibuster Against
Bolton (2:48)
For the second time in a row, Senate Republicans have failed
to gather the 60 votes needed to end debate and vote on President
Bush's nomination of John Bolton to become the next ambassador
to the United Nations. Bolton's nomination has been held up
by two Democratic Senators who are demanding several documents
concerning Bolton, documents the Bush administration has refused
to hand over. Ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, Joe Biden of Delaware is requesting to see drafts
of Bolton's 2003 Congressional testimony to investigate whether
Bolton pushed for a harder line against Syria after the fall
ofBaghdad. [ CUT ] Democratic Senator Christopher Dodd of
Connecticut is also requesting to view intercepts from the
State Department to see if Bolton went after people who disagreed
with his intelligence assessments. [ CUT ] Republican Senator
George Allan of Virginia accused the Democrats of playing
politics with an important position pertaining to international
relations. Allan says Bolton's strong words of the ineffectiveness
of the UN makes him the right person to send to the UN. [
CUT ] It remains unclear what President Bush's next move will
be. He could withdraw Bolton's nomination or give the Democratic
Senators the documents being requested. Bush could also use
what's known as a recess appointment when Congress takes its
4th of July break to sidestep the Senate and put Bolton in
the UN. Such a move would allow Bolton to serve until January
2007.
[top]
UN Commission of Experts Evaluates Human Rights Tribunal
in East Timor (3:08)
The United Nation's Commission of Experts, or COE whose
duty is to evaluate the Human Rights Tribunal on East Timor,
has submitted its report to the UN Secretary General. Indonesian
military officials, commander of the pro-Indonesia militia
Eurico Gutierrez and the former East Timor Governor were brought
into the tribunal for committing massacres after independence
in 1999. The COE's report says that the tribunal in Jakarta
was beyond acceptability and is calling for an International
Tribunal. From Jakarta, Meggy Margiyono has more.
[top]
Bio Democracy in Philadelphia (2:31)
This week in Philadelphia, more than 18,000 biotech executives,
investors and scientists from more than 60 countries are attending
the "BIO" conference organized by the Biotechnology
Industry Organization. At the same time, thousands of farmers,
scientists, academics, and consumers have joined together
to offer an alternative vision, and challenge the Biotech
Industry. Today was the main day of action for the protest.
Jenka Soderberg reports from Philadelphia.
[top]
Demonstrations Against Proposed Cuts to CPB
(2:10)
A congressional subcommittee voted last week to cut hundreds
of millions of dollars from public broadcasting. These cuts
would eliminate funding for digital conversion, interconnection,
Ready to Learn programs, and rescind the Corporation of Public
Broadcasting, or CPB appropriation by 25%. However, a variety
of groups, including National Public Radio and child programming
advocates, have come to the capitol to say no to the cuts.
Selina Mususta reports.
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