Activist george takei. Anytime you need to say the word gay, you can simply say the gay. You could safely proclaim your supportive to gay marriage. If youre a no more festive mood, you can march in the takei pride parade. We will speak with george takei about the attack on gay rights, growing up in a japanese internment camp during world war ii. And we will look at how fracking poses not only a threat to the nations water supply, but also the air. This stuff starts happening and i noticed there into my noseing up and there is this heaviness on my chest, and it feels like an elephant sitting here. It feels like somebody is choking the air out of me. I cant get a breath. Fracking the eagle ford shell. All of that and more coming up. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. Brewer hasernor jan vetoed a bill that would have allowed businesses to deny service to lgbt people. In recent days, the bill generated a nationwide chorus of condemnation, not just from lgbt activist, but also from Major Companies like apple and delta, and even some of the same republican lawmakers who voted for it. On the same day as brewers veto, a federal judge in texas struck down the states ban on samesex marriage, although he issued a stay on the ruling while texas appeals. We will have one of victories in arizona and texas after headlines with the actor and activist george takei. In ukraine, prorussian government has seized in troll of Parliament Days after the ouster of the to be critically elected president. Russian news reports a president Viktor Yanukovych is now in russian territory and seeking protection. Months ofev following protests over his decision to strengthen ties with russia and not europe. Assia, meanwhile, is running second day military exercises near the ukraine border. The rest of the secretary of state was in kiev on wednesday to play support for the new government. The first up is the formation of a new government. Sit downortunity to with that new government and identify the plans of the new ukrainian government, their diagnosis of the problem, and then identify specifically what we can do to help. Lawmakers in ukraine unveiled an interim government wednesday to be led by Prime Minister arseniy yatsenyuk. He is a leader who topped u. S. Diplomat victory and clearly favors an elite phone call released before ouster. Chs i think he is the economic experience, the governing experience. In venezuela, five intelligence agents have been arrested for the shooting deaths of protesters amidst violent antigovernment protests that have killed at least 16 people. Three other agents and Six Police Officers were arrested on monday. On wednesday, president Nicolas Maduro held a National Peace conference aimed at quelling the crisis, but the opposition did not attend. A new report by Amnesty International finds Israeli Soldiers in the occupied west bank are killing Palestinian Civilians with impunity and what could amount to war crimes. According to you and data, 45 palestinians were killed in the west bank between 2011 and 2013, including six children. Amnesty International Researcher saleh hijazi describe the reports findings. The impunity they enjoy, and because there is lack of proper investigations that meet international standards. The you have in israel in occupied territories is the military investigated. This is not an independent investigation. A member of the cuban five is due to end his prison sentence today after more than 15 years behind bars in the u. S. Fernando gonzalez is expected to be transferred to an immigration prison and deportation back to cuba. The cuban five were arrested in 1998 and later convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage. They say they were just trying to monitor violent rightwing cuban exile groups. Another member was released in 2011. Three others remain in prison. In environmental news, a probe by the state departments Inspector General has found a contractor who analyze the Environmental Impact of the Keystone Xl Oil pipeline did not violate conflict of interest rules, even though it previously performed work for the Pipeline Company transcanada. Environmentalists said the contractor failed to properly disclose industry ties before issuing a report but downplayed the pipelines harms. President obama is expected to issue a decision in the next few months on the pipeline, which would carry Tar Sands Oil from canada to the u. S. Gulf coast. Hundreds of protesters plan to lock themselves to the white house gates on sunday to urge obama to reject the pipeline, which they say would be a disaster for the climate. In related news, federal regulators say railcars being used to transport oil from north dakotas mocon shale pose an unacceptable safety risk. The cars were involved in recent explosions, including one in quebec a killed 47 people in july. Remarks came a day after regulators issued an emergency order restrictors ash stricter testing to measure how explosive oil is before it is transferred. Recent tests found more than half of the oil samples bound for transfer by train from the bakken region were misclassified. The region is fueling a boom in testslling gas, but indicate oil there is more explosive than other types. Australian Authorities Say a massive fire at an open pit coal burn ford continue to months. The fire has already burned for two weeks, enveloping the town of morwell. Victorias chief Health Officer spoke wednesday. Our priority is to concentrate on the shortterm health effects. We know the fine particles in the smoke can get down into the lungs and can cause Short Term Health effects like worsening of heart or lung conditions. We know the people who were most vulnerable are people with preexisting heart and lung conditions, children, the elderly, smokers, and pregnant women. The use of solitary confinement in u. S. Prisons was under discussion on capitol hill this week. Would this is at a hearing led by senator dick durbin of illinois described how solitary confinement devastates families, allows guards to isolate prisoners whom they have sexually assaulted, and drives prisoners to hopelessness. Senator durbin said more than half a prison suicide take place in solitary. Among the speakers was a former louisiana death row prisoner who spent 15 years on death row in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day before being exonerated in 2012. I do not condone with those who have committed serious offenses have done, but i also dont condone what we do to them when we put them in solitary for years on end and treat them as subhuman. As ae better than that civilized society. We should be better than that. I would like to believe the vast majority of the people in the United States would be appalled if they knew what were doing to inmates in solitary confinement and understood that we are torturing them for reasons that have little, if anything, to do with protecting other inmates or Prison Guards from them. Week, new york state agreed to reform its use of solitary confinement, including banning its use in disciplining prisoners under 18. Lawmakers in massachusetts are considering a bill that would ban the shackling of prisoners who are giving birth. Temporaryissued regulations to limit the practice last week. Advocates say it is not unusual for women to be handcuffed hospital beds while in labor. 18 states have passed laws to restrict the shackling of pregnant prisoners. A new Senate Investigation finds the Swiss Banking firm Credit Suisse aided tax evasion i wealthy u. S. Clients who have stashed billions of dollars outside the reach of u. S. Tax collectors. The report accuses the bank of an array of tactics, from creating offshore shell entities to establishing a branch as work airport where elite clients used secret elevators operated by remote control. The ceo blamed the abuses on small a small group of bankers at the firm. The Management Team regrets deeply that despite the industryleading appliance measures we put in place, we had some private bankers who appeared to have violated u. S. Law. Wednesday marked the twoyear anniversary of the death of unarmedmartin, the africanamerican 17yearold who was shot dead by George Zimmerman in sanford, florida. Zimmermans acquittal now and i the country on issues of race and rights in the criminal Justice System. Rallies were held nationwide wednesday to mark the two years since the killing. Were all trayvon. Fathers, sisters, brothers, grandfathers. The matter who you are, what youre doing or where youre going, if you believe in yourself, believe in him, too. I have a 20yearold. [indiscernible] i am praying that my child may get back. The anniversary of Trayvon Martins death came less than two weeks after jury acquitted michael dunn of murder in the killing of another unarmed africanamerican 17yearold in florida, jordan davis. Dunn faces at least six years in prison after he was convicted of attempted murder for shooting 10 times that a vehicle full of teenagers after a dispute over loud music. Officers in michigan who killed an African American homeless man accused of stealing a cup of coffee will not face charges. 2012, Saginaw Police fired 47 shots at milton hall, striking him 11 times. Hall had a history of Mental Illness and reportedly tried to defend himself with a pocket knife, at one point even calling 911 to plead for help as officers surrounded him. On tuesday, federal officials said there was not enough evidence of willful misconduct to prosecute the charges who also previously avoided state charges. Milton halls mother has filed suit against the city of saginaw. And those are some of the headlines. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman with juan gonzalez. Welcome to all our listeners and viewers from around the country and around the world. In a major victory for civil rights advocates, arizonas republican governor jan brewer has vetoed a bill wednesday that would have allowed businesses to deny services to lgbt people. It does not address specific concerns related to religious liberty in arizona. I have not heard of one example in arizona where Business Owners alleges liberty has been violated. The bill is broadly worded and could result in unintended and negative consequences. After weighing all of the arguments, i have vetoed senate bill 1062 moments ago. The bill was passed by both houses of the Arizona Legislature earlier this month and sparked outcry not only from human rights activists, but also age or corporations. Delta, petsmart, American Airlines group, marriott, and apple were among the Many Companies that urged governor brewer to block the bill. Some comedies threaten to pull out of arizona altogether. Governor brewer also faced pressure from within her own party to reject the bill. Three republican state senators sent brewer a letter urging her to veto the bill just days after they voted for it, along with the rest of the state Senate Republican caucus. The senators wrote that public outcry over the law was causing arizona immeasurable harm. The arizona bill is similar to ones that recently failed in idaho and kansas, and to one under consideration in utah. Meanwhile, in another victory for Marriage Equality advocates, a federal judge in texas declared samesex marriage ban unconstitutional on wednesday. The case was filed last fall on behalf of to samesex couples. Togethere have been for 17 years. The other couple, shortly after the ruling, the address the reports. What i want to say [indiscernible] it may be the first step, but it is an awesome first up. We look forward to the day when after 17 years we can finally be married. For all of this and more, were joined by one of the countrys most wellknown champions of gay rights, the legendary actor and activist george takei for best known for. Aying lt. Sulu on star trek he promised to boycott arizona if the antigabriel became law. George takei, welcome to democracy now what was your reaction late yesterday when you heard jan brewer, the governor of arizona, vetoing the bill . Surprised. Ot we expected her to veto the bill. What was surprising was that both houses of the Arizona Legislature passed such a bill. That house is dominated by rightwing religious extremists and it is not really representative of the people of arizona. We own property up in the white mountains. My husband brad was born there. So we have a vested interest and we know many, many people. We have family there. We have many friends there. And these people are not represented by these right wing extremists in the legislature. The veto was not a surprise. E expected that you cited all of the major corporations sports teams. The nfl, absolutely. We did not think the governor of all,mage first the reputation, and secondly, the economy of arizona anymore than what the legislature had done. Nextpecially with the super bowl scheduled for arizona. What about the extraordinary situation with legislators that voted for the bill been requesting that jan brewer veto it . To at to rick turn republican state senator who supported the bill, allowing businesses to refuse gay people under this on religious beliefs. The bottom line for us and those who voted for it, and it was a majority in both chambers, is it is as basic as religious freedom. You could say it might be preemptive after we saw what has taken place in some other states, but we think it is nothing more and nothing less than protecting religious freedom in our state and we take that very seriously. He was not one of those who after changed their mind, but after her decision, he said, im started hear that governor brewer has vetoed this bill. Im sure it was a difficult choice for her, but a sad day when were taking liberties is considered controversial. Is one of the three who change their mind. These people do not listen and they do not think. The democratic minority in both houses of the legislature clearly stated that this was using religious freedom as a veil to cover the very simply, personal prejudice, and nothing more than that. And yet steve pierce says, i heard nothing about prejudice, and that is why voted for it. And now i understand and so i am voting against it. Or im urging the governor to veto it. These legislators have no business being in public service, making public policy. They need to be removed. Were going to be very active in the campaign to remove these people who have no right to be in the public office. I want to turn to Rush Limbaugh talking about the arizona bill on tuesday. The governor is being bullied by the homosexual lobby in arizona and elsewhere. She is being bullied for the nationwide drive by media and by certain elements of Corporate America. In order to advance the gay agenda. I guess in that circumstance, admirable. In fact, this kind of bullying is honorable. George takei . We have to consider the source. What the legislation was doing was to refuse service to gays and lesbians or anyone that disagrees with the business peoples religion. So a muslim taxi driver could ,efuse to take a jewish person or a single woman traveling by herself. Rush limbaugh has no credibility at all. The legislation was trying to write in prejudice, and to use his words, bullying and coercion into civil law and that is not allowed. A great have changed deal. When you have this massive corporate lobby putting pressure , isnt your traditional, you know, gay and lesbian activist and their supporters you had Corporate America saying no to prejudice. Because they recognize the economic realities here. G power as well as our allies as well as you know, i maintain the majority of americans are good, decent people, and they will not tolerate this kind of abuse of a legal process. The corporations recognize that as well. Marriott, American Airlines, delta airlines, apple was going to build a manufacturing plant in mesa, arizona vetott romney tweeted to the bill. Leadership on the republican side. The two u. S. Senators from the arizona side as well as the secretary of state and the arizona treasurer. It was overwhelming. Rational, decent, fairminded people. I want to ask you about the events in texas. On wednesday, a federal judge declared samesex marriage ban in texas unconstitutional. This couple was legally married five years ago and part of the lawsuit. They were married and wanted texas to recognize their union. Committed were all to our families so we are committed to this cause. We will continue it until we have no avenues left to repeal. Your reaction to the texas decision . It is consistent with all that is been happening. There are 17 states now that have Marriage Equality, plus the national capital, washington, d. C. Now there are states like utah, very conservative states. Another conservative state, oklahoma and virginia, where the same kind of federal ruling has come down. That to thealing appellate court. Oklahoma has indicated they will go with the utah appeal. Texas being rolled unconstitutional is all consistent with the way things are going. Inevitably, when we are enjoying this kind of legislative or judicial victories im a the backlash victories, the backlash will come and that is what arizona is. And the same kind of ill that arizona tried to write into law is being considered by other states like south dakota and other states. But i think the overwhelming public reaction and the decent