Elliott Gabriel

Elliott Gabriel is a former staff writer for teleSUR English and MintPress News based in Quito, Ecuador. He has taken extensive part in advocacy and organizing in the pro-labor, migrant justice and police accountability movements of Southern California and the state's Central Coast.

California Dems Co-Opt “Abolish” Line, But ICE Contractors Bankrolled the State Party

The Democratic Party, historically, has been just as supportive of ICE as the Republican Party. The corporations clearly understand this and that explains their willingness to continue to make financial contributions to finance the political campaigns of both parties.

Elliott Gabriel
By Elliott Gabriel
United States Senator for California Kamala Harris speaks at the "Families Belong Together: Freedom for Immigrants" March on Saturday, June 30, 2018, in Los Angeles. Willy Sanjuan | Invision | AP

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – In recent months, the Democratic Party has been navigating an ever-shifting public opinion landscape on the issue of President Donald Trump’s war on immigrants. While the White House has spared no effort advancing Trump’s “zero-tolerance” campaign versus migrant communities and asylum-seekers, reporting on the

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Can Iran’s New Cryptocurrency Aid the “Resistance Economy” in Looming Sanctions Storm?

If the new Iranian cryptocurrency manages to gain support from Iran’s would-be trading partners, we could see Tehran gain a powerful new asset in its fight to fend off the politicized economic war being waged by the Trump administration on the people and government of the Iranian nation.

Elliott Gabriel
By Elliott Gabriel

TEHRAN, IRAN -- As Iran reels from the economic war the U.S. is waging on it, the country is hoping to avoid further damage from fast-approaching sanctions by launching a new digital currency, according to Iranian media reports. The plan to put the new “indigenous cryptocurrency” in circulation was announced by Alireza Daliri, the deputy for

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Migrant Worker Turned Activist Speaks Out About Gulf Slavery Following Cruel Rant by Kuwaiti Makeup Queen

Exclusive: MPN spoke to Pinky Alamo of SANDIGAN, an ex-migrant worker in Kuwait, and MIGRANTE International’s Arman Hernando to discuss the plight of abused migrant workers across the Gulf.

Elliott Gabriel
By Elliott Gabriel
Protesters picket the Senate at the start of the probe in the death of an overseas worker in Kuwait, Pasay city south of Manila, Philippines

KUWAIT – Many have learned the hard way that social media can be a double-edged sword. Such is the case for Kuwaiti Instagram personality and make-up superstar Sondos Alqattan, whose July 10 video on Instagram not only managed to go viral after being broadcast to her 2.3 million followers – normally a measure of success – but also outraged an

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Record Deaths Amid Duerte’s US-funded Crackdown on Philippines’ Poor

Rights defender Cristina Palabay of Karapatan told MintPress she sees Washington’s hand in the violence as Manila wages its war on poor communities to protect corporate profits.

Elliott Gabriel
By Elliott Gabriel
Activists in Quezon city protest President Rodrigo Duterte's militarized push for big mining firms and plantations making 2017 the bloodiest year for environmental defenders." Bullit Marquez | AP

MANILA – As Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte enters his third year in office, his administration has earned the ignominious distinction of ushering in the country’s ranking as the deadliest country for environmental and lands rights defenders in Asia. It’s just the latest indicator of Manila’s careless, if often hostile, attitude toward the

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Report: Kissinger Urged Trump Policy of Pursuing Russia to Contain China

Kissinger is known as the figure who pushed the U.S. into its devastating Cold War interventions in Angola, Cambodia, Chile, East Timor, Cambodia, and Vietnam, where hundreds of thousands died as a result of the actions of the U.S. Armed Forces and/or CIA.

Elliott Gabriel
By Elliott Gabriel
President Donald Trump meets with Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor under President Richard Nixon, in the Oval Office of the White House, May 10, 2017, in Washington. Evan Vucci | AP

WASHINGTON – As President Donald Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki last week faced withering criticism for everything ranging from his “fondness for strongmen” to alleged “treason,” the geostrategic objectives of his attempt to advance détente were largely ignored or taken at face value alone. Yet Trump’s own

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US Accuses China of Seeking to Build a “Military Base” in El Salvador Commercial Port

Claims of Chinese military activity in Central America should be taken with a grain of salt, at the very least, given the right-wing political forces and pro-U.S. business circles that are levying the accusations.

Elliott Gabriel
By Elliott Gabriel
An aerial image of the Port of La Union in El Salvador. Photo | Public Domain

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR -- El Salvador has suddenly become a focal point of growing “concern” to the U.S. government about China’s presence in Central America and alleged attempts to establish a military presence in the region. Concerns over Chinese activities in the region were stirred up when U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador Jean Manes warned

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Saudis and UAE Paid Extras to Protest Qatar in Attempt to Spoil Emir’s UK Visit

According to emails sent to prospective members of the “rent-a-mob” by a company called Extra People, participants would be paid $25 to protest from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm outside the gates of Downing Street during a meeting between the Arab ruler and U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May.

Elliott Gabriel
By Elliott Gabriel
An Anti Qatar protest in London as Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrives in the UK, July 23, 2018. Photo | Twitter

LONDON -- Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been accused of paying extras through a talent agency to protest the London visit of the emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in an attempt to depict the Gulf country’s ruler as a figure loathed by the British public. The emir is hoping to promote ties with friendly countries amid a

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