Folks,
Greetings from the Burgh, where I am catching up on some news that I missed over the Jewish High Holidays.
Big thanks to everyone who donated so a Jew could take off the high holidays.
AP & Reuters Demand Answers from Israel on Strike that Killed Mariam Abu Dagga and 4 Others
On Thursday, I wrote about praying Kaddish for a 33-year old AP photographer, Mariam Abu Dagga, who was killed in an attack on Nasser Hospital in late August. Yesterday, the Associated Press and Reuters, who both lost reporters in the attack that killed Dagga and four others, demanded that Israel provide answers about how they were killed.
“The strikes that killed them occurred at a hospital, a location protected under international law and one that was widely known to be crucial for news coverage out of Gaza,” wrote the two news agency in a joint statement. “These journalists were acting in their professional capacity, doing eyewitness reporting. An incident of this gravity requires a prompt and clear explanation, followed by accountability and concrete actions to ensure such attacks are never repeated.”
Read the full statement from AP and Reuters.
Donate to Help Cover Fight for Justice for Mariam Abu Dagga
Payday intends to cover the investigation and the fight for justice for Mariam Abu Dagga. Too often, these deaths become forgotten and we hope to provide regular updates to keep her memory alive.
Trump Praises Lula at United Nations
Earlier this month, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempting to assassinate Lula and orchestrate a coup. Trump has retaliated against Brasil by placing a 50% tariffs on Brazilian exports. However, over 600 key Brazilian imports have been exempted from the tariffs.
While attending the United Nations General Assembly, Lula and Trump met for the first time by chance. Afterwards, Trump praised Lula at length.
"At least for 39 seconds, we had excellent chemistry... It's a good sign," Trump told the United Nations General Assembly. “I liked him, and he liked me." Lula also agreed, “there was some chemistry.”
The two planned to meet next month to discuss relations between the two countries. For more, check out AP.
Trump Using Shutdown to Threaten Mass Firings
With Trump unable to pass a budget bill, he is threatening to use any government shutdown to engage in mass firings. From CNN:
The threat of mass firings came as the White House seeks to amplify pressure on Democrats ahead of next week’s funding deadline, and signal that President Donald Trump would take advantage of a shutdown to accelerate his priorities in the exact manner that Democratic lawmakers — including Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer — feared earlier this year.
Schumer in March argued for backing a GOP funding bill to keep the government open at the expense of angering his base. But with Democratic leaders vowing this time to hold steady on their demands, Trump officials are trying to shake that resolve by making clear the ways they would maximize the pain of a prolonged closure.
The standoff is opportune timing for OMB Director Russ Vought and a faction of administration officials who have long pushed for further workforce cuts, two people familiar with the internal dynamics said, offering a potential chance to carry out the kind of government-wide reductions that have so far proven politically unpopular while simultaneously blaming Democrats for fueling them.
Massive ICE Raid Shakes Rural New York Town
Finally, Truthout has a long look at a raid in rural Cato, New York, where 69 farmworkers were detained:
One worker who was deported later told Mendez that an agent wedged his knee on another worker’s neck. Mendez observed officers laughing during the raid. One worker was reportedly hit in the back of the head.
Maxwell told Truthout that workers with valid working papers were “bullied” by officers and told their papers were “fake.” The Syracuse Post-Standard reported that workers were told their work permits were “not enough.”
One Customs and Border Protection officer gloated: “We found their sanctuary.”
News & Headlines Elsewhere
- Boeing stays silent on Machinists’ proposed strike settlement
- NewsGuild-CWA joins calls on DHS to withdraw journalist visa proposal
- Firefighter arrested at Washington state wildfire released by ICE
- Unionized Disneyland workers say $233M settlement validates years of organizing
- Temple Health nurses, technicians set to strike Oct. 6 if no deal reached
- Fenway Park workers allege Aramark retaliated over July strike
Alright folks, that’s all for today. Keep sending tips, comments, and complaints to melk@paydayreport.com
