African Union submits UN Security Council expansion plan News
African Union submits UN Security Council expansion plan

[JURIST] The African Union [official website] introduced its own plan for expansion of the UN Security Council on Monday, despite ongoing negotiations that would give Africa permanent representation on the council [JURIST report] and opposition by the US, Russia, and China [JURIST report] to the so-called G-4 plan. This plan, proposed by Germany, Japan, Brazil, and India would put 10 new nations on the council, including two African nations. Six of the ten would be permanent members, but none of them would have veto powers. The new African proposal calls for 11 new members, with six permanent members having veto power. The US supports expansion in principle [US General Assembly address] but has not yet given approval to any plan submitted. It's not clear if the African proposal will receive a vote, and the G-4 plan seems likely to fail [AP report]. 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.