Opposition group says more than half of UK opposed to EU Constitution News
Opposition group says more than half of UK opposed to EU Constitution

[JURIST] With a close vote already expected in France [JURIST report], a UK group has released a poll showing more than half of British voters oppose the European Constitution [JURIST news archive]. Vote No [advocacy website] complains that the new constitution [backgrounder], written following the admittance of 10 new members into the EU, shifts too much power away from individual countries. The new charter must be approved by all member nations to be adopted. The French vote is scheduled for May 29. No date has been announced for the UK poll yet. BBC News 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.