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JUAN GONZLEZ: We turn now to 21-year-old Carimer Andujar, who came to the United States from the Dominican Republic with her family at the age of four. Shes in her third years studying chemical engineering at Rutgers University, where shes been an outspoken advocate for undocumented students. Andujar is the president of UndocuRutgers and a recipient of DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, under President Obama. She was waiting for renewal of her status when she received a letter from federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, ordering her to report for a check-in on Tuesday morning. Immigrant rights advocates say Andujar may now face deportation.

Carimer Andujar, welcome to Democracy Now!

CARIMER ANDUJAR: Thank you.

JUAN GONZLEZ: Tell us about your situation, when you received this notice to report.

CARIMER ANDUJAR: So, I received the notice about seven to eight weeks ago. And the notice said that I had to report for an interview with the deportation officer at the federal ICE building in Newark.

JUAN GONZLEZ: And youve been very active in theat Rutgers University among the undocumented students. Talk about your work there.

CARIMER ANDUJAR: So, my advocacy first started by starting Rutgers first student organization for undocumented students. I started the organization with the objective of providing resources, as well as support, to undocumented students, to improve the graduation rates and as well as retention rates for undocumented students, because theyre currently very low for higher education.

JUAN GONZLEZ: And what is your fear of deportation? Have you seen other students, either at Rutgers or students that you know, who havewere initially granted DACA, who then have subsequently been deported?

CARIMER ANDUJAR: Yes. There was a national case a couple of weeks ago of a DACA recipient who was actually either out to lunch or out to dinner with his girlfriend, and then ICE officials started to ask him questions. That very same day, he was later deported to Mexico. So thats a direct violation of the regulation set forth by DACA, because DACA is supposed to be deportation protection for early childhood arrivals.

JUAN GONZLEZ: And tell us a little bit about your story. You came from the Dominican Republic when you were 4 years old. And you lived and studied where? In New Jersey all of your life?

CARIMER ANDUJAR: Yes.

JUAN GONZLEZ: And tell us a little bit about what its been like being here undocumented for so many years.

CARIMER ANDUJAR: Well, first and foremost, I consider America my home, without a doubt. Ive been living in the same house for 15 to 16 years. So, undoubtedly, I do consider this my home. Growing up undocumented was challenging because there is a lot of fear, and theres also a lot of uncertainty. And it also poses a lot of challenges trying to obtain a higher education degree. So, some of those challenges include not being able to get federal financial aid or any form of financial aid, as well as it does poseit does make it more difficult to also apply for like loans. So, financially, its a lot of strain.

JUAN GONZLEZ: Well, during a February news conference, President Trump was asked if he planned to continue or end the DACA program. This was his response.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Were going to show great heart. DACA is a very, very difficult subject for me, I will tell you. To me, its one of the most difficult subjects I have, because you have these incredible kidsin many cases, not in all cases. In some of the cases, theyre having DACA, and theyre gang members, and theyre drug dealers, too. But you have some absolutely incredible kidsI would say mostly. They were brought here in such a wayits a veryits a very, very tough subject. We are going to deal with DACA with heart. I have to deal with a lot of politicians, dont forget, and I have to convince them that what Im saying isis right. And I appreciate your understanding on that.

JUAN GONZLEZ: Your reaction to President Trumps statements and also to his general approach so far to the immigration issue in the country?

CARIMER ANDUJAR: Well, the statement comes after a lot of dehumanizing rhetoric, mainly targeting not only immigrants, in general, but also specifically undocumented immigrants. So it came as a bit of surprise, just because perhaps he didnt realize, when he was first speaking, that when he speaks about undocumented people, hes also speaking about DACA recipients, because its not only a DACA recipient versus non-DACA recipient, because, you know, non-DACA recipients are our parents. Theyre alsoyou know, theyre in the same struggle as us. Wereour struggle is one and the same.

JUAN GONZLEZ: Now, at Rutgers, the university officials have declared the university a safe space for undocumented students. Theres sort of an equivalent to sanctuary cities that have developed around the country. Your response to how the university has dealt with your case? And theI know the faculty union has been very supportive and is mobilizing people to appear with you Tuesday morning at the federalat the federal building there.

CARIMER ANDUJAR: So, I have received incredible support, as you said, from the faculty union, as well as various professors at the university. I have heard that some students have been reaching out to Barchi, which is the president of the university, forto get him to voice his support for not only myself, but also other undocumented students in my situation. I have not heardI have not heard feedback from that, but I do know that the Senate approved a motion in support of undocumented students. So, as of right now, what we have seen from the administration is a lot of emails by supportsorry, support from emails. So weve received a lot of emails stating their support for undocumented students. But, you know, this is a case where now is the time for them to prove and demonstrate their support, not only in emails, but, you know, when an actual case arises, are they willing to kind of go against the national rhetoric and support an undocumented student?

JUAN GONZLEZ: So youll be going to your ICE check-in Tuesday morning, tomorrow morning, at 8:30 in Newark, New Jersey. Youll be accompanied by who? And what do you expect to happen?

CARIMER ANDUJAR: Well, my interview is at 9:00, but I do expect to get there early, so around 8:30. So, because of the support that I have been receiving, as I said, not only from my university, but also communities and local officials, I dont think that they are going to deport or detain me, because several senators as well as congresspeople have been in contact with ICE, letting them know that there is

JUAN GONZLEZ: U.S. Senator Cory Booker has

CARIMER ANDUJAR: Yes.

JUAN GONZLEZ: is supporting you?

CARIMER ANDUJAR: Yes, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, as well as Senator Bob Menendez. They have alsoI have also been in contact with them, and they have been supporting me, as well as Congressman Pallone and Congressman Pascrell. So, because of the support that I have received, the tremendous amount of support that I have received, I dont think that they will be deporting or detaining me.

JUAN GONZLEZ: Well, best of luck to you in your hearing, and well continue to follow the work of the UndocuRutgers students, as well as the DACA students across the nation, in their fight to assure that they are able to stay in the country legally.

CARIMER ANDUJAR: Thank you.

JUAN GONZLEZ: Thanks very much for being with us, Carimer Andujar.

CARIMER ANDUJAR: Thank you.

Continued here:
Rutgers Student Activist & "DREAMer" Speaks Out While Facing Possible Deportation - Democracy Now!

Technology can both centralize power, and it can subvert it. It can broadcast one voice, or it can cultivate a multitude of voices. It can foster opposition, and it can bring empathy.

But instead of describing how technology can improve our democratic process in the future, Ill highlight a social action thats already building momentum toward such an improvementand consider how technology can support that.

The 2016 election cycle demonstrated what happens when media outlets favor views over integrity, and audiences favor validation over depth. Outlets subsidized by ad impressionscoupled with audiences willing to share articles that confirmed their biasesprovided feedback loops to push some outlets to cater to bias. The walls between points of view thickened. There now seem to be multiple realities, each with media outlets to support them with fragments of a story instead of the full picture. Because of this divisiveness, people cannot understand each other, and even choose to ignore each other.

Post-election shock among those who did not believe Donald Trump could win the presidency appeared online, followed by organizing and action across a range of expressive outlets. In this, a new form of media emerged. Sticky notes placed on subway tiles revealed fear, love, and hope. Posters were made for protests, and then displayed publicly afterwards. For many, this public expression offered a renewed sense of purpose and confidence around activism.

Interactive and participatory media allows viewers to get involved, to become expressive, and give voice. It is inviting and contagious for those who share viewsseeing enough notes and posters in public makes it more welcoming to add your own. Visible support for a cause can translate into momentum. The communication is both digital and physicalexemplified by handmade posters and stories, which are then shared online. These stories build solidarity among those who share a vision for the future of the country, and they remind people that they arent alone. Stories can be personal, and convey vulnerability. They can also cultivate empathy to thin the wall between dissonant points of view. While most of the stories may not resonate across different opposing views, even just a few can start building bridges of understanding.

This kind of public participatory media encourages civic action. It moves from digital support to public support only when it is clear that such actions have an impact.

My tech suggestion isnt a shiny new product or algorithm. Its something simpler and familiar, but essential. People must document recent victories to give them visibility. When there is no sense of impact, people can feel jaded. Document the legislation that comes from public action. This isnt a complex tech solution, but with the proper attention it can have a wider lasting impact. It can celebrate public creativity, voice, and civic action.

Exploring interactive and participatory media encourages public expression and builds momentum. Documenting the impact closes the feedback loop. When purpose and momentum wane, these narratives show that participation can create change, and build a stronger democracy.

This article is part of a collaboration with the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University.

Originally posted here:
Democracy Needs Storytellers - The Atlantic

BBC News

Poland march: Thousands protest against 'curbs on democracy' BBC News Thousands of Polish opposition supporters have been marching in Warsaw to protest against what they see as curbs on democracy imposed by the governing party. The opposition Civic Platform (PO) has accused the Law and Justice Party (PiS) of trying to ... Trump Slogan Turned on Head in Poland's Pro-Democracy RallyBloomberg all 23 news articles »

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Poland march: Thousands protest against 'curbs on democracy' - BBC News

Today, the final run-off election to determine Frances next president will take place. Center-left candidate Emmanuel Macron will face off against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. The day before, the country was rocked by a massive hacking attack on Macrons campaign.

France's election campaign commission said Saturday a significant amount of data and some fake information has been leaked on social networks, reported the Associated Press Philippe Sotto, John Leicester and Raphael Satter. It urged citizens not to relay the data on social media to protect the integrity of the French vote.

Does any of this sound familiar? If you paid even the slightest bit of attention to our latest presidential election, it should ring some bells. (Remember last years email hacking of the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton campaign manager John Podesta?)

Though it isnt yet clear who is responsible, French officials are taking the threat extremely seriously.

The Macron team asked the campaign oversight commission Saturday to bring in cybersecurity agency ANSSI to study the hack, according to a government official. ANSSI can only be called in for cases where the cyberattack is 'massive and sophisticated' and the Macron hack appears to fit the bill, the official said, reported the AP. Someone on 4chan a site known, among other things, for cruel hoaxes and political extremism posted links to a large set of data Friday night.

This cyber tampering with free and fair elections in the western world isnt the first, nor will it be the last.

The head of Germany's domestic intelligence agency accused Russian rivals of gathering large amounts of political data in cyber attacks and said it was up to the Kremlin to decide whether it wanted to put it to use ahead of Germany's September elections, reported Reuters Andrea Shalal. Moscow denies it has in any way been involved in cyber attacks on the German political establishment. Hans-Georg Maassen, president of the BfV agency, said 'large amounts of data' were seized during a May 2015 cyber attack on the Bundestag, or lower house of parliament, which has previously been blamed on APT28, a Russian hacking group.

Color us not shocked if it turns out Russian hackers were behind the French attack. Whatever the case, these online attacks arent just targeted at the candidates themselves, but the idea of democracy itself. In the 21st century we must realize this is the new way wars will be fought. We must remain vigilant or we will all further suffer the consequences.

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Editorial: French hack an attack on democracy - Kokomo Tribune

Sunday May 7 2017 In Summary

President Uhuru Kenyatta was officially unveiled as the Jubilee candidate on Saturday in a series of ceremonies held by parties that support his re-election.

The endorsement came a day after National Super Alliance leader Raila Odinga was in turn handed the mantle as the candidate of the united opposition ticket.

There are things to celebrate about these developments. To a certain extent, it shows that Kenyas democracy is continuing to gain in maturity.

There are now two main political blocs, in contrast to the splintered parties that used to be witnessed in the 1990s.

Also, it is expected the election will be hotly contested, something which cannot be said of many other countries in the region.

Still, there is major uncertainty about the status of preparations for the election.

It is essential that all parties do their utmost to support the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission so that it can be ready to deliver a free, fair and credible vote.

Politicians should realise they have a major duty to ensure the country does not go back to the violence and disruption that marked the vote in 2007.

They should restrain themselves in their public pronouncements and should emphasise to their supporters that elections are not a do-or-die battle.

The framing of issues is also important. It is unfortunate that nearly all Kenyan elections are won or lost on the question of ethnic mobilisation rather than based upon policy debates. This is something that should change.

The parties should come up with manifestoes that offer costed plans for what they hope to achieve for Kenyans between 2017 and 2022.

Elections in Kenya are a time when too much anxiety exerts a negative effect on the economy and on crucial sectors such as agriculture.

All this can be prevented if the politicians that have been given the mantle of leadership conduct themselves over the next three months with a measure of maturity, restraint and responsibility. The race is on. Let it be a clean and fair contest.

Politicians should tell their supporters that elections are not a do-or-die battle.

Somali militants used rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) to shoot down two US helicopters in

The grand homecoming party at Bukhungu stadium was organised by SportPesa.

Original post:
EDITORIAL: Let's nurture our parties and democracy in peace - Daily Nation