Democracy Now!

DemocracyNow.org - President Barack Obama has announced he will visit Puerto Rico next month, fulfilling his 2008 campaign promise and making him the first U.S. President to visit to the island since John Kennedy's trip almost 50 years ago. A task force recently called on the United States to resolve the issue of Puerto Rico's statehood by 2012. "All of the four million people on the island and those in the U.S. are U.S. citizens, but they inhabit a territory that is separate and distinct from the rest of the United States that has its own language, culture, and history," notes Juan Gonzalez, who writes about the country in his newly revised book, "Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America." "It is this identity problem that really is reflection of the continuing colonial—Puerto Rico is the last major colony of the United States, one of the last remaining colonies in the world," Gonzalez said on Democracy Now! May 25. To watch the entire interview, read the complete transcript, download the video/audio podcast, and for more Democracy Now! archives of related stories on Puerto Rico, visit http://www.democracynow.org/2011/5/25/obama_to_make_first_presidential_visit FOLLOW DEMOCRACY NOW! ONLINE: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/democracynow Twitter: @democracynow Daily Email News Digest: http://www.democracynow.org/subscribe Please consider supporting independent media by making a donation to Democracy Now! today, visit http://www.democracynow.org/donate/YT

DemocracyNow.org - On Bob Dylan's 70th birthday, Democracy Now! airs a special program on his life and music. Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24, 1941, in Duluth, MN. He moved to Greenwich Village in 1961 and within a few years, he would be viewed by many as the voice of a generation as he wrote some of the decade's most famous songs, including "Blowin' in the Wind," "The Times They Are a-Changing," "Like a Rolling Stone," "Masters of War," "Desolation Row" and "Mr. Tambourine Man." Click here to watch the entire interview: http://www.democracynow.org/2011/5/24/the_legendary_bob_dylan_turns_70 After emerging from the New York City folk scene, Dylan explored many other genres, from rock to country to the blues. He continues to tour to this day. In 2008, the Pulitzer Prize jury awarded him a special citation for "his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power." But before Bob Dylan became a musical star, he was one of countless young musicians in New York City trying to get heard. Some of his earliest radio appearances were on Pacifica radio station WBAI. Democracy Now! interviews the legendary WBAI broadcaster Bob Fass, the host of "Radio Unnameable," who interviewed Dylan several times. Fass's show began in 1963 and became a leading outlet for the emerging counterculture of the 1960s. It still airs every Thursday night at midnight. We play excerpts from the Pacifica Radio Archives of a 1962 performance by Dylan on Fass's show and an interview when he was only 20 years old. Also interviewed is music writer Elizabeth Thomson, co-editor of the newly reissued book, "No Direction Home: The Life and Music of Bob Dylan," written by the late Robert Shelton. Democracy Now! airs little seen interviews with Pete Seeger and Joan Baez, part of Dylan's 1963 performance at the March on Washington, and hear why Dylan refused to sing out at protests against the Vietnam War. To watch the entire interview, read the complete transcript, download the video/audio podcast, and for more information on Democracy Now!, visit http://www.democracynow.org/2011/5/24/the_legendary_bob_dylan_turns_70 FOLLOW DEMOCRACY NOW! ONLINE: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/democracynow Twitter: @democracynow Daily Email News Digest: http://www.democracynow.org/subscribe Please consider supporting independent media by making a donation to Democracy Now! today, visit http://www.democracynow.org/donate/YT

DemocracyNow.org - On Bob Dylan's 70th birthday, Democracy Now! airs a special program on his life and music. Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24, 1941, in Duluth, MN. He moved to Greenwich Village in 1961 and within a few years, he would be viewed by many as the voice of a generation as he wrote some of the decade's most famous songs, including "Blowin' in the Wind," "The Times They Are a-Changing," "Like a Rolling Stone," "Masters of War," "Desolation Row" and "Mr. Tambourine Man." Watch Part 4 of 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88eMP6D5geQ After emerging from the New York City folk scene, Dylan explored many other genres, from rock to country to the blues. He continues to tour to this day. In 2008, the Pulitzer Prize jury awarded him a special citation for "his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power." But before Bob Dylan became a musical star, he was one of countless young musicians in New York City trying to get heard. Some of his earliest radio appearances were on Pacifica radio station WBAI. Democracy Now! interviews the legendary WBAI broadcaster Bob Fass, the host of "Radio Unnameable," who interviewed Dylan several times. Fass's show began in 1963 and became a leading outlet for the emerging counterculture of the 1960s. It still airs every Thursday night at midnight. We play excerpts from the Pacifica Radio Archives of a 1962 performance by Dylan on Fass's show and an interview when he was only 20 years old. Also interviewed is music writer Elizabeth Thomson, co-editor of the newly reissued book, "No Direction Home: The Life and Music of Bob Dylan," written by the late Robert Shelton. Democracy Now! airs little seen interviews with Pete Seeger and Joan Baez, part of Dylan's 1963 performance at the March on Washington, and hear why Dylan refused to sing out at protests against the Vietnam War. To watch the entire interview, read the complete transcript, download the video/audio podcast, and for more information on Democracy Now!, visit http://www.democracynow.org/2011/5/24/the_legendary_bob_dylan_turns_70 FOLLOW DEMOCRACY NOW! ONLINE: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/democracynow Twitter: @democracynow Daily Email News Digest: http://www.democracynow.org/subscribe Please consider supporting independent media by making a donation to Democracy Now! today, visit http://www.democracynow.org/donate/YT

DemocracyNow.org - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech was warmly received by Democrats and Republicans in Congress on Tuesday. According to ABC News, Netanyahu received 29 standing ovations during his address—four more than President Obama received during his State of the Union address earlier in the year. However, there was at least one dissenting voice inside the halls of Congress on Tuesday. That was Rae Abileah, a Jewish-American activist of Israeli descent with the group CodePink disrupting Netanayahu. Standing in the Congressional gallery, she yelled, "No more occupation, stop Israel war crimes, equal rights for Palestinians, occupation is indefensible." As she screamed, members in the audience tackled her to the ground, and undercover security forces later dragged her outside. She was taken to George Washington University Hospital where she was treated for neck and shoulder injuries. At the hospital, police arrested Abileah and charged her with disorderly conduct for disrupting Congress. Abileah's protest came as part a week-long series of actions organized by CodePink called Move Over AIPAC. We speak to Abileah about why she used non-violent civil disobedience to disrupt Netanayahu's speech. To watch the entire interview, read the complete transcript, download the video/audio podcast, and for more Democracy Now!'s archives of reports on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, visit http://www.democracynow.org/2011/5/25 FOLLOW DEMOCRACY NOW! ONLINE: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/democracynow Twitter: @democracynow Daily Email News Digest: http://www.democracynow.org/subscribe Please consider supporting independent media by making a donation to Democracy Now! today, visit http://www.democracynow.org/donate/YT

DemocracyNow.org - Juan Gonzalez discusses the history of Latinos in the United States and how it relates to U.S. political and military intervention in Latin America. Gonzalez, a Democracy Now! co-host and New York Daily News columnist, has just published an updated edition of his book, "Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America. "Originally released in 2000, the book explores the stories of Latinos from Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and around the region. President Obama's trip to Puerto Rico was announced at a time when Obama appears to be making a concerted push to win the Latino vote in 2012. Earlier this month, Obama gave a major address to a mostly Latino audience in El Paso, Texas, calling for immigration reform. Democracy Now! airs a few clips from a new documentary in production based on "Harvest of Empire." To watch the entire interview, read the complete transcript, download the video/audio podcast, and for more Democracy Now! archives of Juan Gonzalez, visit http://www.democracynow.org/2011/5/25/harvest_of_empire_new_book_exposes FOLLOW DEMOCRACY NOW! ONLINE: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/democracynow Twitter: @democracynow Daily Email News Digest: http://www.democracynow.org/subscribe Please consider supporting independent media by making a donation to Democracy Now! today, visit http://www.democracynow.org/donate/YT

DemocracyNow.org - The future of negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians remain in doubt following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address Tuesday before a joint session of the U.S. Congress. Democracy Now! interviews Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative, about the speech. Netanyahu insisted that Jerusalem will not be divided and that Israel's internationally recognized 1967 borders are "indefensible." Netanyahu also said Israel must "maintain a long-term military presence along the Jordan River" and he condemned the recent Fatah-Hamas reconciliation deal. Netanyahu's speech came five days after President Obama called for the creation of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with mutually agreed land swaps. "Netanyahu yesterday blocked every possibly for a negotiation for two state solution," Barghouti says. "Practically, he took away every possibility for a peaceful resolution because he wanted to impose unilaterally the outcome on every issue. ...He wants us to live as slaves in a system of apartheid and occupation." Barghouti is also the president of The Palestinian Medical Relief Society and a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. To watch the entire interview, read the complete transcript, download the video/audio podcast, and for more Democracy Now!'s archives of reports on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, visit http://www.democracynow.org/2011/5/25/netanyahus_speech_to_congress_dashes_palestinian FOLLOW DEMOCRACY NOW! ONLINE: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/democracynow Twitter: @democracynow Daily Email News Digest: http://www.democracynow.org/subscribe Please consider supporting independent media by making a donation to Democracy Now! today, visit http://www.democracynow.org/donate/YT

DemocracyNow.org - This is the summary of news headlines from the United States and around the world as reported by Democracy Now! on Wednesday, May 25, 2011. For the video/audio podcast, transcript, to sign up for the daily news digest, and for today's entire show, visit http://www.democracynow.org. FOLLOW DEMOCRACY NOW! ONLINE: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/democracynow Twitter: @democracynow Daily Email News Digest: http://www.democracynow.org/subscribe Please consider supporting independent media by making a donation to Democracy Now! today, visit http://www.democracynow.org/donate/YT

DemocracyNow.org - "We are making the world a more violent and dynamic place ... that is what global warming is about," says environmentalist Bill McKibben on Democracy Now! May 26. So far, 2011 has already become the deadliest year for tornado outbreaks in the United States since 1953 with more than 500 people killed. While audiences are seeing the warning "severe weather" increasingly flash across TV screens, little connection has been made to the role humans have played in driving climate change. McKibben is the founder of the grassroots climate campaign 350.org and has a new article out called, "A link between climate change and Joplin tornadoes? Never!" He is also the author of many books including, "Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet." To watch the entire interview, read the complete transcript, download the video/audio podcast, and for Democracy Now!'s vast news archive on reports about Spain, visit http://www.democracynow.org/2011/5/26/toma_la_plaza_frustration_with_unemployment FOLLOW DEMOCRACY NOW! ONLINE: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/democracynow Twitter: @democracynow Daily Email News Digest: http://www.democracynow.org/subscribe Please consider supporting independent media by making a donation to Democracy Now! today, visit http://www.democracynow.org/donate/YT

DemocracyNow.org - This is the summary of news headlines from the United States and around the world as reported by Democracy Now! on Thursday, May 26, 2011. For the video/audio podcast, transcript, to sign up for the daily news digest, and for today's entire show, visit http://www.democracynow.org. FOLLOW DEMOCRACY NOW! ONLINE: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/democracynow Twitter: @democracynow Daily Email News Digest: http://www.democracynow.org/subscribe Please consider supporting independent media by making a donation to Democracy Now! today, visit http://www.democracynow.org/donate/YT