UN Security Council calls on Haiti to curb rights violations News
UN Security Council calls on Haiti to curb rights violations

[JURIST] The UN Security Council [official website] has urged government officials in Haiti [JURIST Country news archive] to curb human rights violations and expedite the releases of political leaders currently held in prison. In a statement [official text] Wednesday the Council urged the interim Haitian government to calm violence in the area in preparation for elections scheduled for later this year. UN peacekeepers have been in the Caribbean nation since the violent ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in November 2004. The statement released by the council makes reference to former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune [Wikipedia profile], who remains detained without formal charges and has begun a hunger strike; and urges the formation of a compensation program for former military men as part of an integrated disarmament, demobilization and reintegration program [UN overview of DDR programs, PDF]. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism

November 9 is the International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism [UNITED factsheet]. On November 9, 1924, American gay activist Henry Gerber and several associates formed the Society for Human Rights, the first gay rights organization in the United States. The Society received a charter from the State of Illinois in December but was disbanded in July 1925 after a police raid which led to Gerber's arrest and trial (albeit not conviction). Pay a virtual visit to Henry Gerber House, now a registered Chicago landmark.

Supreme Court strikes down Massachusetts anti-draft law

On November 9, 1970, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 in Massachusetts v. Laird not to hear the case of the state's anti-draft law. Massachusetts had passed a law, which allowed its citizens to decline to fight in any undeclared war, even if the person was drafted. The law was passed in opposition to the draft and the war in Vietnam. The First Circuit found the war constitutional and thus struck down the law.