Right-wing extremists have adopted tactics of harassment and threats against progressives in Portland, including the mayor.

They have also forcibly shut down public talks — a tactic that is wrong no matter who does it.

Demasking nonviolent protesters, especially protesting the deportation thugs, must be seen as an act of violence, since it could result in their deportation.

Asia Bibi, her conviction for blasphemy finally overturned, is now free to leave Pakistan, if she can evade the Muslim fanatics that want to kill her.

There is no progress, however, on repealing the law against blasphemy. I recommend that people avoid visiting Pakistan unless it is for a vital necessity.

When Ravi Ragbir, anti-deportation activist, was summoned to meet with the US deportation department, Rep. Yvette Clarke and members of the New York City government tried to accompany him. Thugs told them they were not allowed, and neither was his wife. The result was a standoff.

Clarke promised Congress would investigate those practices.

Evidence implicates Zimbabwe's army in murder and rape during repression of protests.

There is no cause that so easily stirs up big protests like increasing the price of fossil fuels. Yet this is one of the special issues on which yielding to the protesters implies (even worse) disaster in a few decades.

Perhaps if the price increase is entirely distributed to poor people in other ways, they might accept it.

Egypt is still blocking investigation of the murder of Italian student Giulio Regeni, in which members of the state repression agencies have been named as subjects to investigate.

It would be wrong to convict a person based on limited evidence such as that, but it is sufficient reason to conclude that the Egyptian state is responsible.