Democracy Now! Thursday, May 8, 2008

Today's Headlines

• Burma Cyclone Toll Could Top 100,000
• Sadr City Residents Told to Flee Homes
• Report: 10M Children Die Yearly from Preventable Causes
• Vowing to Press On, Clinton Loans Campaign $6.5M
• McCain to Yield $7M at New York Fundraiser
• Independent Whistleblower Agency Targeted in FBI Raid
• FBI Withdraws National Security Letter Issued to Internet Archive
• Michigan Supreme Court Upholds Denying Benefits to Gay Couples
• Philadelphia Police Caught Beating Unarmed Victims

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  200 Arrested in Massive Show of Civil Disobedience Over Police Acquittals in Killing of Sean Bell

  More than 200 people have been arrested in a day of protest over acquittal of three police officers in the killing of Sean Bell. The twenty-three-year-old Bell died in a hail of fifty police bullets on the morning of what would have been his wedding day in November 2006. He was unarmed. On Wednesday, demonstrators halted traffic at six busy intersections in Manhattan and Brooklyn. [includes rush transcript]

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  As Aid Delivery Arrives in Cyclone-Ravaged Burma, Fears Death Toll Could Top 100,000

  The first major international delivery of aid has finally landed in Burma amidst new fears the death toll from this week’s cyclone could top 100,000. We speak to Jeremy Woodrum, co-founder of the US Campaign for Burma. [includes rush transcript]

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  Former Senator George McGovern Switches Support from Clinton to Obama

  Many political analysts say Tuesday’s primary results in North Carolina and Indiana make Senator Barack Obama the all-but-certain nominee. But Senator Hillary Clinton is vowing to press on with her presidential bid. We speak to former senator, Senator George McGovern, who has dropped his support of Clinton to endorse Obama. Senator McGovern won the Democratic presidential nomination in 1972 and ran against Richard Nixon. [includes rush transcript]

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  "Torture Team": British Attorney Philippe Sands on the White House Role in Sanctioning Torture

  The House Judiciary Committee is preparing to hold a series of hearings examining the Bush administration’s role in authorizing the illegal torture of prisoners in US custody at Guantanamo and elsewhere. We speak to British attorney and author Philippe Sands, author of the new book “Torture Team: Rumsfeld’s Memo and the Betrayal of American Values.” On Tuesday, Sands testified before the House Judiciary Sub-Committee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.

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  "Economic Hit Man" John Perkins Recounts U.S. Efforts to Block Nationalization of Panama Canal

  Panamanian President Martin Torrijos was in Washington earlier this week to discuss a pending free trade agreement with the United States, where he drew praise from President Bush on winning national approval for the $5.2 billion expansion plan for the Panama Canal. But three decades ago the moves to nationalize the Panama Canal by President Torrijos’ father, General Omar Torrijos, met with enormous resistance in this country.