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ST. LOUIS – The stories of more than 300 enslaved men and women in Missouri who risked their lives to sue their owners for their freedom sat stacked and tucked away in boxes for more than a century.
Now, those civil rights cases, some argued in the old courthouse still standing in St. Louis, have been commemorated with a new bronze sculpture known as the Freedom Suits Memorial. At the base of the 14-foot memorial are the names of enslaved people as well as depictions of court scenes showing them suing for their freedom.
“I felt like all of them were my direct ancestors and that I have a personal responsibility to bring those voices out, to let everyone know that the slave was not a passive, afraid, cowering victim, but that we were freedom fighters from the start,” said St. Louis Circuit Judge David Mason, who’s been at the forefront of bringing greater public awareness Missouri’s “freedom suits.”
Mason said it was not until the 1990s, after cleaning up an old building that city officials found the old lawsuits “folded in half and then in third,” stacked in boxes in “perilous” condition that detailed how these hundreds of people fought for their freedom.
A good number of cases were argued between 1814 and 1860, prior to the start of the Civil War, and for some, before the Dred Scott case. Mason said the theory that underpinned the freedom suits was that, under Missouri law, the enslaved people had reached a status that they were free, but were still being held in the state of slavery.
Many of the Freedom Suits only identify the plaintiffs by their first names. This suit, brought forth by a man who is identified as “Charles, a man of color” was filed in 1841. In the end Charles did not win his freedom, according to a National Park Service list of the suits and their outcomes. Photo by: Washington University Libraries
But this was Missouri, a slave state that officially joined the union in 1821 and enslaved people who pursued these legal challenges were up against a white judge, a jury made up of white, male property owners, and faced a deep fear of deadly retribution. However, Missouri’s long-standing judicial standard – “once free, always free” – was key to understanding why so many of these suits went forward and why nearly a third of those who sued won, according to Mason.
READ MORE: At least 70 people were enslaved by the Jesuits in St. Louis. Descendants are now telling their stories
This meant that if you were enslaved and you went into a free state long enough to be under that state’s general standards of residency, then you became free, he explained. And if enslavers forcibly took them back into Missouri, the enslaved people had the right to sue for their freedom.
“Once free, always free” established a civil right to freedom,” he added. Out of the box, into the light
After the handwritten documents were uncovered, the freedom suits eventually were sent to Washington University in St. Louis, where they made their way to David Konig, professor emeritus of history and law professor of law.
He worked with the undergraduate students who carefully unfolded and deacidified the two-centuries-old records, one by one. “Due to the “terrible condition” of the documents, “it really wasn’t until several years after their discovery that they became usable,” Konig said. These archives were then transcribed and digitized for people to view online. However, several groups worked to bring the Freedom Suits to life including the Missouri State Archives, Washington University Libraries, the Missouri History Museum and others.
The documents detailing the freedom suits offered a glimpse into the lives of the people who sued, their stories, their fight, and how the system built against them worked to keep them oppressed.
There are stories like that of Lucy Delaney, the daughter of an enslaved woman named Polly Wash who used the Underground Railroad to escape bondage in St. Louis but was later caught and returned. In 1839, Wash fought back again and sued for her own freedom and ultimately won. She would later help her oldest daughter Nancy file suit and eventually Lucy, who is listed in her suit as Lucy Ann Britton. She argued that her owners David D. Mitchell and his wife were falsely imprisoning her.
In her autobiography, Delaney revealed that her enslaver kept her “‘shut away from the sunlight for seventeen long and dreary months,’ while her case dragged on until she finally gained her freedom,” Konig wrote in a summary on the St. Louis freedom suits.
In the end, according to documents kept by Washington University and the National Park Service, Delaney won, she was now free.
‘One of the worst decisions in the court’s history’
Perhaps the most well-known of the freedom suits is the Dred Scott case. Scott’s pursuit of freedom started in 1846 and lasted roughly 11 years. Scott and his wife argued in court that because they spent time in Illinois and Wisconsin, where slavery was prohibited, they had the legal right to sue for their freedom, a position that had been argued and upheld several times before.
The couple initially lost based on a technicality and then went back and forth in the local and state courts before appealing to the Supreme Court, where their journey to freedom through the court system came to end.
The court delivered its decision on March 6, 1857; neither Scott nor his wife would receive their freedom from the courts end the end. Though eight of the nine justices wrote opinions, Chief Justice Roger B. Taney’s that is often considered the majority. In the decision, he wrote that enslaved people could not be American citizens and therefore did not have the right to sue for their freedom, undoing decades of precedent. He also deemed the 1821 Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, stating Congress could not prohibit slavery in federal territories.
The decision “basically distorted history in a way that is shocking,” Konig said.
READ MORE: Decades after a Missouri town seized a Black doctor’s home, his relatives sought to reclaim his land — and his story
Taney, a devoted slavery supporter, wrote in his racist opinion that African Americans were “beings of an inferior order … so far inferior, that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect.”
For Konig, who has spent his life teaching both history and law, that 1857 ruling is “one of the worst Supreme Court decisions ever.”
Mason said it’s for that reason we cannot forget about Dred Scott and all those who were courageous enough to challenge a system set up to never deliver them justice.
“As a nation, we have to deal with the Dred Scott decision,” he said.
In 2007, Washington University held a symposium marking the 150th anniversary of the Dred Scott decision. Konig helped organize it, inviting the then-current Missouri Supreme Court to attend.
“Although a bloody Civil War produced three constitutional amendments to reverse that decision, the achievement of full racial, religious, and ethnic equality in this country remains an unfinished project,” Konig said in a speech at the event.
Last year, the Missouri State House voted 152-0 to denounce the Missouri Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision in a resolution led by Missouri State Representative Raychel Proudie.
Reclaiming the story
Preston Jackson is the artist behind the silicone bronze sculpture unveiled in downtown St. Louis on Juneteenth. He was brought in on the project about seven years ago.
“I got excited about and still am excited about what this means to my people and to my country, and I really designed this thing that you can’t miss it,” he said.
The imagery displayed on the memorial show courtroom scenes with both the plaintiffs and their lawyers making their case. Photo by: Gabrielle Hays
Jackson, who grew up in Decatur, Illinois, remembers visiting family in St. Louis many times throughout his childhood. On those visits, he recalls feeling the city lacked a space that represented Black artists. It was those moments, he said, that granted him a moment to dream.
“I imagined it and pretended that downtown stood one of my pieces and a visualization of what I have to say and I have to offer,” he said.
The memorial, the visualization he dreamed of as a child, stands somewhere around 14 feet tall. It depicts different scenes showing the enslaved sitting in courtrooms with their lawyers making brave bids for their right to be free. Inscribed at the base of the bronze sculpture are the names of those who brought forth suits. In the corner is Jackson’s name, followed by the year 2021.
“I want people of all classes, of all races, of all gender to stand there and say life is worth living, life is worth fighting for because this is a battle, and we are definitely on the right side of history,” he said. “It forces the observer to open their eyes and to see that this is the stuff that we have to overcome, the battle is still on.”
Preston, too, said there’s more story to be told.
“We are here,” he said. “We’re not going to go backwards, and we’re not going to allow this to happen.” | Civil Rights Activism |
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Federal prosecutors asked a judge on Wednesday to sentence a former Minneapolis officer to 25 years for violating the rights of George Floyd, saying Derek Chauvin's actions were cold-blooded and needless as he knelt on the Black man's neck while Floyd repeatedly said he couldn't breathe.Chauvin pleaded guilty in December to violating Floyd’s rights, admitting for the first time that he kept his knee on Floyd’s neck — even after he became unresponsive — resulting in Floyd's death. Chauvin, who is white, admitted he willfully deprived Floyd of his right to be free from unreasonable seizure, including unreasonable force by a police officer, during the May 2020 arrest.Floyd's killing sparked immediate protests in Minneapolis that spread around the U.S. and beyond in a reckoning over police brutality and discrimination involving people of color.As part of his plea agreement, Chauvin also pleaded guilty to violating the rights of a then-14-year-old Black boy who he restrained in an unrelated case in 2017.Related video: New misconduct lawsuits filed against Derek ChauvinU.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson has accepted the plea deal, in which both sides agreed Chauvin should face 20 to 25 years, with prosecutors seeking the high end of the range.In a court filing Wednesday, prosecutors reiterated their request for a 25-year sentence, saying it would reflect the serious nature of the offense, provide just punishment and deter other officers from “imposing punishment” on others. They also said Chauvin's history should be taken into account, noting he “used his law enforcement career to engage in abusive conduct” more than once.A federal sentencing date has not been set.Chauvin was also convicted on state charges of murder and manslaughter and is already serving a 22 1/2-year state sentence. He would serve the federal sentence at the same time as the state sentence.Magnuson also presided over the trial of three other ex-officers who were convicted of related federal civil rights charges in Floyd's death. Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng remain free remain free while they await their sentencing dates, which have not been scheduled.Lane has also pleaded guilty to a state count of aiding and abetting manslaughter, while Thao and Kueng face an October trial on state charges of aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.___Find AP’s full coverage of the death of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd | Civil Rights Activism |
At a multiracial, intergenerational summit that drew celebrities to students to policymakers, Michelle Obama delivered a pull-no-punches speech saying Americans “need a remix” and a “strategy” when it comes to voting.“I’d love to be able to tell you that everything is as it should be… that we have nothing to be afraid of … to stand up here, clear my throat, and say, ‘The state of our democracy is strong!’” the former first lady said. “But you and I, we all know, that I can’t say that right now. It has been a hard, hard few weeks for our country.” Her remarks on Monday evening in Los Angeles came on the fourth and final day of the inaugural Culture of Democracy Summit, hosted by When We All Vote, a national, nonpartisan initiative that aims to register new voters and advance civic education nationwide. Obama founded the group in 2018 under the nonprofit Civic Nation, and now co-chairs it with several celebrity activists, including Kerry Washington, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monae, Selena Gomez, Megan Rapinoe, Shonda Rhimes, and H.E.R.The convening of leaders in a range of fields such as entertainment, business, sports and grassroots activism sought to explore and address the different roles stakeholders play in protecting and strengthening democracy.In 2020, ahead of a presidential election in which 155 million voters yielded record turnout amid a pandemic, When We All Vote orchestrated a campaign nationwide that the group said helped more than 500,000 people start or complete the voter registration process. Now, two years later, primary elections are well underway in states across the country. To maintain momentum, Obama said, it’s imperative to go to the polls. “I am just trying to show you that no one has the luxury to sit out or stay at home just because you’re not feeling excited enough … because as I’ve said time and time again, if you don’t vote, other people will.” “Because just look at everything our democracy is facing,” she said, ticking off a list. “The harsh new photo ID laws, the polling places closed down, the early voting hours cut, folks being purged from the voting rolls, the House districts that look like a Jackson Pollock painting.” “In Florida, you might get stopped by an election police force before you can cast a vote — an election police force,” she continued. “In Texas, you can show your gun ID to vote … but not your school ID.”From congressional hearings about the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol to claims of excessive voter purging, gerrymandering and suppression, much is happening in the voting sphere. Since 2020, according to the nonprofit Brennan Center for Justice at the NYU School of Law, state legislatures have introduced some 400 bills in 49 states that Republican lawmakers and supporters have termed voter integrity measures; Democrats and other critics contend they restrict access to the ballot and disproportionately affect voters of color.Obama also referred to Shelby County v. Holder, a case the Supreme Court ruled on in 2013. Shelby stripped key provisions of landmark civil rights legislation, the Voting Rights Act of 1965. That law had, for decades, helped ensure equal access at the ballot box by requiring states and localities with a history of voter discrimination to obtain pre-clearance from the Department of Justice before making changes to their voting laws. In 2021, the court ruled on Brnovich v. DNC, which advocates say further chipped away at the law.“I want you to see that the court cases that you ignore because they seem boring or arcane can actually have a direct impact on your day-to-day life,” Obama said. The Congressional Black Caucus and Democrats on Capitol Hill have pushed for passage of H.R. 4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act. Previous versions of the bill have passed the House but faltered in the Senate. Yet, Obama pointed to bipartisan efforts in the Senate to enact federal overhauls around gun ownership and safety as a hopeful sign of showing democracy at work, especially over the course of several years. “No matter what side you fall on,” she said, “it is encouraging to see leaders from both parties working hopefully to find some common ground on this issue … but these kinds of conversations get right to the core of what it means to live in a democracy.”Overall, Obama’s message was clear: Voters must get “creative” instead of “angry or dejected” when it comes to actively engaging with democracy. “Because this is not a partisan issue," she said. "It’s an American one, and anyone who says otherwise is trying to get you to stay quiet about the threats we face.” “We are tired of the partisan bickering, tired of the cultural wars, tired of the talking heads distracting us from the one thing that we all should share, all of us, as Americans … the fundamental belief that everyone deserves a voice in our democracy and a vote in our elections.”Follow NBCBLK on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. | Civil Rights Activism |
Mother Jones illustration; Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Facts matter: Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily newsletter. Support our nonprofit reporting. Subscribe to our print magazine.Well, folks, the decision is here.
As expected, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court has ruled 6-3 in favor of bypassing the precedents established in the 1973 Roe v. Wade and 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey rulings and upholding a law passed by Mississippi in 2019 that bans abortion at 15 weeks. The opinion nullifies the constitutional right to an abortion and significantly weakens the right to privacy, which will likely spell more trouble ahead for contraceptive rights and LGBTQ+ rights. More immediately, 13 states have trigger laws on the books that will ban abortion immediately. (The procedure is already banned in Oklahoma, which didn’t even wait for SCOTUS to rule.)
Today’s ruling gutting abortion rights has been expected since early May, when Politico published a leaked draft of the opinion, in which Justice Samuel Alito declared, “It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.” That sentiment stands.
The right to abortion has been on the books for half a century. But two generations of conservative legal activism primed the Supreme Court for today’s tectonic decision, and with the fall of Roe, former President Trump secured a defining moment for his far-right legacy: It was his appointees who finally tipped the balance on the court, and ensured this ruling’s majority.
Justice Samuel Alito’s majority opinion fundamentally rejected the idea that Roe should remain under the doctrine known as stare decisis, the concept that protects legal precedent. “We therefore hold that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion,” Alito writes. “Roe and Casey must be overruled, and the authority to regulate abortion must be returned to the people and their elected representatives.”
While Chief Justice John Roberts voted with the majority, he issued a concurring opinion that differed by saying that the majority’s argument did not require the court “to take the dramatic step of altogether eliminating the abortion right first recognized in Roe.”
The three liberal justices, writing in dissent, decried the decision for discarding “a known, workable, and predictable standard in favor of something novel and probably far more complicated,” setting states against each other, and producing innumerable legal battles to come. “The majority’s response to these obvious points exists far from the reality American women actually live,” they wrote.
“This morning, the radical Supreme Court is eviscerating Americans’ rights and endangering their health and safety,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said at a swiftly convened press conference. “Today the Republican-controlled Supreme Court has achieved its dark extreme goal,” she said, laying the blame at the feet of Trump and Sen. Mitch McConnell, accusing them of “criminalizing health freedom.”
She also warned of a nationwide abortion ban if Repubclians win both houses of Congress in November.
Immediately, activists on both sides descended on the Supreme Court Friday morning to celebrate and protest. Liberal and progressive leaders across the country scrambled to pull together legal responses to ensure the continuation of the right to abortion in their states.
This is a breaking story. We will update this post as we digest the full legal opinion. Check back at motherjones.com for more updates on abortion access. | Civil Rights Activism |
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! The University of Maryland, Baltimore, lists "anti-racist" activism as a "preferred" qualification for students who are applying to be a writing consultant.Writing consultants at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, are tasked with providing feedback to students on course assignments, and assisting with cover letters, grant writing, and other writing work.According to the job description on the university's website, "Previous anti-racist coursework or activism" is listed as a preferred qualification.The website also states that employees at the writing center "approach our work with writers with an anti-racist lens," and states that students use the campus job to "augment" their "social justice coursework."CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UNIVERSITY HOSTS ORIENTATION FOR 'BLACK, LATINX, AND NATIVE AMERICAN' FAMILIES University of Maryland, Baltimore, Bressler Research Building (University of Maryland, Baltimore)"For students committed to anti-racist action in your own professional practices and communities, the rigorous preparation will be a major benefit of this campus job," the website states.Students who work as a writing consultant will also learn about the "language justice theory" and prepare students to challenge "racializing language ideologies" with clients.Other schools have asked applicants to show their commitment to "anti-racism" across the country.For example, in November 2021, Pennsylvania State University asked applicants to an assistant professor of architecture position to show how they have included "equity, diversity, inclusion" in their academic research.TENNESSEE COLLEGE ALUMNI LOBBY TO REMOVE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE BARRETT FROM SCHOOL'S 'HALL OF FAME'While the position is for applicants with a background in architecture, the job posting states that the "ideal candidate" will work to "establish a culture of anti-racism and anti-oppression.""The College of Arts & Architecture is working to establish a culture of anti-racism and anti-oppression that embraces individual identities, fosters a culture of inclusion and promotes equity through curricula, values, standards, ideals, policies and practices," the description states. "The ideal candidate will provide evidence of their experience with, and interest in, contributing to these goals."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPApplicants are instructed to explain in their cover letter "how equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging relate to your academic, research, creative activity and/or service experience." Adam Sabes is a writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to Adam.Sabes@fox.com and on Twitter @asabes10. | Civil Rights Activism |
Two Mexican Americans who have dedicated their lives to fighting for equality and the advancement of Latinos were awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, at the White House on Thursday.Raúl Yzaguirre is the founder and former leader of the National Council of La Raza, considered the nation's largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy group, and Julieta García is a former president of the University of Texas at Brownsville — the first Latina to serve as a university president.Born a decade apart in the Rio Grande Valley, Yzaguirre and García took lessons from their upbringings in the South Texas region to achieve positions of power, which they then used to dismantle discrimination and fight for the advancement of Latinos and other people of color.Yzaguirre, 82, born in San Juan, Texas, took a small organization with about $500,000 and 23 affiliates and grew it into a formidable one with a $40 million budget and 250 affiliates. The group, renamed UnidosUS, has helped shaped policy on immigration, education, voting rights and more. Yzaguirre stepped down in 2004, after 30 years at its helm. He also served as the ambassador to the Dominican Republic under President Barack Obama.García, 73, born in Brownsville, Texas, was president of UT-Brownsville and helped oversee its merger with University of Texas Pan American to become UT-Rio Grande Valley, which serves mostly Latinos. She fought for money from the state's Permanent University Fund, which holds 2.1 million acres and revenue from oil and gas leases on the land, to create the university. UT-Rio Grande Valley is ranked in the top three schools awarding bachelor's degrees to Latinos. Yzaguirre and García are among 17 people awarded the medal Thursday by President Joe Biden. Among the honorees are former Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz.; Olympic gymnast Simone Biles; U.S. soccer player Megan Rapinoe; the actor Denzel Washington; and posthumously, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple.'A visionary'Yzaguirre’s work with UnidosUS rested heavily on bringing together the nation's increasingly diverse Latino population to forge a stronger political force that could command the attention of Washington power brokers. The 2020 census counted 62 million Latinos in the U.S.“What Raúl doesn’t get enough recognition for is how much of a visionary he was,” said Lisa Navarette, who worked with Yzaguirre and now is an adviser to UnidosUS President Janet Murguía. “In the early '70s he was already envisioning what would become the Latino community," Navarrete said.Yzaguirre was raised by his grandparents and was heavily influenced by his grandfather's own story of nearly being lynched by Texas Rangers when he was out past a curfew imposed by the state on Mexican Americans and Mexicans at the time, according to a 2016 biography, "Raul H. Yzaguirre: Seated at the Table of Power," by Stella Pope Duarte.Yzaguirre was a protégé of the civil rights leader Dr. Hector P. García, a Mexican American physician who formed the civil rights group American GI Forum after witnessing mistreatment of Mexican American World War II veterans. Navarette said García helped Yzaguirre channel his anger over discrimination into activism. Yzaguirre's work in Washington continues to have an impact. Charles Kamasaki, a senior adviser at UnidosUS, recalled Yzaguirre deciding to agree to compromise on what became the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. He didn't like the enforcement levels in the bill and had worked to improve it until finally agreeing to a compromise in 1986, giving about 3 million immigrants without legal status in the U.S. a chance to become lawful permanent residents. Raul Yzaguirre announces findings of the task force he headed for the Smithsonian on Latino issues in 1994.Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post via Getty Images fileYzaguirre helped produce a scathing report on the Smithsonian Institution's failure to serve and hire Latinos, a report that was instrumental in last year's approval of a National Museum of the American Latino. His tenure was also marked by clashes with administrations. He quit a commission on education and Hispanics in the 1990s in frustration over its partisanship and delays and picketed President Lyndon B. Johnson's administration over its lack of Hispanics."Raúl taught me so much about integrity that I will take with me for the rest of my life," said Cecilia Muñoz, a former Obama domestic policy adviser. Muñoz said she was among the first women at the National Council of La Raza to become pregnant while working there. She asked Yzaguirre whether that would end her work there, as many colleagues expected. "He said, 'Of course not, we are family focused and it's time to put our money where our mouth is.' This was 1992, before the Family Leave Act," she said. When Yzaguirre was unable to testify on the 1986 immigration bill in the U.S. Senate, he sent Muñoz. The staff of Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., suggested the council reconsider, but Yzaguirre told Muñoz to rise to the occasion. "He developed leaders and I'm one of many, many alumni at the organization who followed his example and made a difference in other organizations and in government," she said.Ben Yzaguirre, the youngest of his six children, said that as he gets the medal his father wants people to know that “while the achievements he had were great and moved our community forward, there’s still a lot of work to be done. Immigration reform, voting rights, still still need attention ... to continue to progress.”Yzaguirre retired in 2013 when his Parkinson’s worsened. He lives in Maryland. In a statement released by UnidosUS, Yzaguirre responded to the recognition. “Reflecting on my lifetime journey, I am proud of the fact that we all continue to be motivated by our desire to make the promise of the American Dream a reality,” he said. “For too long, Hispanics have been absent from that promise, even though they were historically among the first Americans as well as the newest Americans, and continue to make enormous contributions to our society and our economy.”García told NBC News that she met Yzaguirre, whom she had revered for years, in Washington and they discovered they were cousins after she told him that the Yzaguirre name was also in her family. "From then on, when I walked into a room where I was a nobody and Raúl was always a somebody, he would say, 'Be careful with my prima,'" or cousin, she said.A successful fight to educate new generationsBut García knew how to fight her own battles, too. She often has said growing up with brothers prepared her for the almost all male domain of college and university presidents. García's mother, a fifth-generation Texan, died when García was 9. Her father was from Monterrey and came to the U.S. as a young boy when his family fled the Mexican Revolution. He had come from an educated family and did well in high school. Her mother graduated salutatorian at her high school in Harlingen, Texas. But a college education was unaffordable and inaccessible for her parents, García said."Imagine doing well in school but there's not a university to go to or there's one that you don't have access to because it's far away. Our intent was to never let that happen to another generation again in the Rio Grande Valley," she said referring to those she worked with to get the state Permanent University Fund money to UT-Rio Grande Valley and its medical school."Julieta Garcia believes in the talents and vitality of the people of south Texas," said Sarita Brown, co-founder and president of Excelencia in Education, a nonprofit Latino education advocacy group. "She shared her courage, expertise and commitment to advance a vision for higher education that serves her community and lights a path for us to follow for the future." García said she spent 22 years in the back of the room at university meetings raising her hand trying to get a share of the funds for UT-Brownsville. The school, as well as UT-Pan American — which were both on the heavily Latino South Texas area — were the only UT schools that did not get some of the money at the time. García took other steps to improve higher education among Latinos. Under her leadership, the university built up its physics program and added a second library to the campus. She fostered student interest in chess, not often associated with Latinos, through competitions and scholarships."We planted a huge flag in the UT System. ... When we created UT-RGV, it was with the express purpose of getting access to the Permanent University Fund," García said. "That opened a spigot to South Texas and higher education forever more." The numbers of Latinas leading universities has diminished in recent years and García said she hopes hoping "teaching the next generation to be advocates" can help change that, including in Texas, she said. "My job has been and will always be to talk about the potential of the human capital in the Valley of the Hispanic population in the United States," she sad. "Imagine one day we have a governor in Texas who says, 'Aren't we lucky? Look at the number of Hispanic Texans that we have,'" she said. "They are bilingual, they are biliteral and bicultural. That's an asset in a world market."Follow NBC Latino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. | Civil Rights Activism |
The written word and its power have long fascinated poet Christopher Soto. “I started writing poetry in the first grade,” he said, “so I always knew I wanted to write. Basically, writing has been an obsession for me.” Soto, 31, is garnering widespread praise for his debut poetry collection, “Diaries of a Terrorist,” that takes on violence, policing and trauma.“The heart of the book is to create a world without policing and human caging,” said Soto, who identifies as nonbinary and uses the pronouns he/they. “As poets, we are daydreamers, the people who imagine the world as we want it to be.”"Diaries of a Terrorist" by Christopher Soto.Courtesy of Copper Canyon Press Sometimes described as an abolitionist, Soto writes in one poem: Dear police Trust means I give you the gun You don’t shoot It’s not something you deserve To be trustedThe Salvadoran American artist and activist grew up outside Los Angeles. By high school, he’d started a slam poetry club and ventured into performing their work.Soto’s view of policing has been shaped in part by personal experience. A survivor of domestic violence, Soto saw firsthand how inadequate the current justice system was for addressing such problems.“When I was going through domestic violence, I needed safe housing near my school, I needed food, I needed access to mental health services," Soto said. "What I didn’t need and would never want was for my father to be incarcerated.” As a child, one of Soto’s uncles was incarcerated and would send letters with drawings made in prison to Soto’s older cousin. This cousin later became an artist and taught Soto that a life in the arts was possible. The arts, as mediated by experiences with policing and prisons, is intergenerational for his family.Soto cited statistics from RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network) that show that only 2.5% of sexual assaults lead to incarceration. “If only 3% lead to incarceration, why are we so heavily invested in police and prisons? What about the other 97% of victims of sexual assaults ... shouldn’t we be investing in systems that help them, rather than relying on a prison framework that re-perpetuates systems of violence?” According to a Pew Research Center report last year, a growing share of Americans want more spending on police in their area. Among Latinos, 46% said that police spending in their area should be increased, 16% believed that it should be decreased, and 37% thought it should remain the same. Although calls to defund the police spread in the aftermath of the George Floyd killing in 2020, since then even Democrats have moved away from embracing this approach.Polling and popular sentiment do not faze Soto. “I don’t feel distracted by what other people are doing. My obligation as a poet is not to work on legislative strategy. My obligation is to imagine a more just, caring, and equitable world.”Soto has written for The New York Times and The Nation, and is a co-founder of the Undocupoets Campaign, which successfully lobbied publishers to remove proof of citizenship requirements from some book contests. A recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Poetry, Soto also co-founded Writers for Migrant Justice, to protest the detention and separation of migrant families.“I see (Soto’s) poetry as activism, and I also perceive their activism as poetry,” said Myriam Gurba Serrano, acclaimed writer and author of “Mean.” I think their work has a prophetic character to it.”“I think that (Soto’s) work walks a tightrope,” Serrano Gurba added. “It achieves playfulness while at the same time maintaining gravitas, especially as that gravitas relates to the violence that minoritized communities face in the U.S. and abroad.”Changing the one-dimensional view of El SalvadorThrough their work, Soto also hopes to disrupt the narrative around El Salvador. “I want to push back on the idea that America is so exceptional, and that El Salvador is a void of queer culture and poetry. In a lot of ways, I feel like my life is fuller there than it is here.” While there is persecution of transgender community in El Salvador, Soto pointed out that anti-transgender violence and legislation is happening across the U.S. as well.When it comes to Salvadorans, Soto believes the U.S. media is fixated on violence and deaths. “I feel like, for the media, it is easier to talk about our deaths — rather than the breadth of our lives, the beauty we produce, and joy we share, as a people, when we are together.”El Salvador is home to over 6.4 million people, and there are roughly 2.3 million Latinos of Salvadoran origin in the U.S.Soto is not alone in feeling that Salvadorans are often narrowly portrayed and associated with violence. “There is a deep history of seeing Central Americans as victims of violence or as actual gang members, like MS-13,” journalist Roberto Lovato said. He said that this view usually excludes the fact that the primary engine of violence in El Salvador is state violence.“Salvadorans are like an inconvenient truth for the U.S.,” Lovato said. El Salvador is rarely discussed in depth in U.S. media because, he explained, that would shine an unpleasant light on our country role in creating instability in the region. “It is rare to even have Central Americans, or people of Central American heritage, telling their own story. I am happy to hear that young people (like Soto) are telling more love-soaked, and not blood-soaked, stories.”Currently working on a novel, Soto intends to keep writing their truth and expressing themself.“I view myself as being an activist and an artist for life. Whether we are ’winning’ or ‘losing,’ I am going to be doing the same work to support Central Americans, queer and trans communities, working- class people and incarcerated people,” he said. “No matter the landscape, I will be doing that work.” Follow NBC Latino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.Raul A. ReyesRaul A. Reyes, a lawyer, is a member of the USA Today Board of Contributors. He has written for The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The Christian Science Monitor, Texas Monthly and the Huffington Post. | Civil Rights Activism |
This is member-exclusive contentOpinionFILE - In this file combo photo, John W. Milam, 35, left, his half-brother Roy Bryant, 24 , center, who went on trial in Sumner, Miss., Sept. 18, 1955, and charged with the murder of 14-year-old African American Emmett Till from Chicago, Bryant's wife Carolyn, is seen right. A team searching the basement of a Mississippi courthouse for evidence about the lynching of Black teenager Emmett Till has found the unserved warrant charging a white woman in his kidnapping in 1955, and relatives of the victim want authorities to finally arrest her nearly 70 years later. A warrant for the arrest of Carolyn Bryant Donham _ identified as “Mrs. Roy Bryant” on the document _ was discovered last week by searchers inside a file folder that had been placed in a box, Leflore County Circuit Clerk Elmus Stockstill told The Associated Press on Wednesday, June 29, 2022. (AP Photo, File)(Uncredited / ASSOCIATED PRESS)It has been an important year for the memory and impact of Emmett Till’s life and terrible death. That alone shows how slow justice can be for people of color in America.In January, 67 years after he was murdered by white supremacists in Mississippi, Till was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor that Congress bestows. Till’s mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, was also honored posthumously. She died in 2003. Her insistence on an open casket at her son’s funeral in 1955 showed the public not only the brutality inflicted on her son, but the wickedness of the ideology that caused it. Till was abducted, tortured and killed after allegedly whistling at a white woman in Leflore County. He was 14. His murder was a watershed moment for the civil rights movement. In the long, sad list of Black men whose unjust killing has inspired change in this country, Till’s name is near the top.On June 29, we got more Till news. A search of the basement at the Leflore County courthouse turned up an unserved warrant for the white woman offended by Till’s alleged whistle — Carolyn Bryant Donham, identified as Mrs. Roy Bryant in the warrant.Donham was 21 in 1955, working at a store in Money, Miss. She claimed, and later testified under oath, that Till had propositioned her and touched her hand, arm and waist. Other witnesses say Till did none of those things and the extent of his attention toward Donham was contained in that whistle. Of course, none of those accusations warranted what happened two nights later when Donham’s then-husband, Roy Bryant, and his half-brother, J.W. Milam, abducted Till from the home of relatives where he was staying, brutalized him, used barbed wire to tie a 75-pound cotton gin fan to him, and dumped him in the Tallahatchie River.Related:Roe has fallen. Does that mean America has escaped God’s wrath?Bryant and Milam stood trial and were acquitted by an all-white jury. Then they promptly confessed to the murder in an account published in Look magazine in January 1956.There were reports of a warrant for Donham’s arrest in 1955, but the sheriff then told reporters he didn’t want to “bother” the woman since she had two young children to care for, according to a Huffington Post summary of the case. That was a troubling concession considering what Till’s mother was enduring.Till’s descendants are calling on Leflore County Sheriff Ricky Banks to serve the newly-found warrant.The case has had a series of starts and stops, hampered by the absence of federal hate crimes in 1955 and the statute of limitations on state crimes in the decades since Mississippi has developed the will to prosecute racial terror.Donham’s truthfulness is still very much in question, but only knowledge of what really happened rides on it. Perjury is not a federal offense and the statute of limitations for prosecuting it in Mississippi has long since passed. A Department of Justice summary of the case includes these bitter lines: “the government does not take the position that the state court testimony the woman gave in 1955 was truthful or accurate. There remains considerable doubt as to the credibility of her version of events, which is contradicted by others who were with Till at the time.”At this point, with Donham in her 80s and any potential case facing so many legal roadblocks, her arrest might be more symbolic than anything. But symbolism matters. Officials should pursue this wherever the law takes them.After all, it’s worth remembering that lynching carried its own symbolic message — namely, that there was a code that operated outside the law to oppress people of color. Lynching was terrorism.The lamentable thing here is that injustice can go unanswered this long. When it does, it leaves long-lasting wounds. The best we can do now is remember Emmett Till and other victims of racial injustice, and resolve to prevent more stories like theirs.We welcome your thoughts in a letter to the editor. See the guidelines and submit your letter here.Get smart opinionsEditorial and commentary from op-ed columnists, the editorial board and contributing writers from The Dallas Morning News, delivered three days a week.By signing up you agree to our privacy policyMost Popular on DallasNews.com123456 | Civil Rights Activism |
A Tesla logo is seen in Los Angeles, California U.S. January 12, 2018. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSummaryCompaniesEditor’s note: Paragraph 3 contains offensive racial languageSAN FRANCISCO, June 30 (Reuters) - (Editor’s note: Paragraph 3 contains offensive racial language)Fifteen Black former or current employees at Tesla (TSLA.O) filed a lawsuit against the electric car maker on Thursday, alleging they were subjected to racial abuse and harassment at its factories.The workers said they were subjected to offensive racist comments and behavior by colleagues, managers, and human resources employees on a regular basis, according to the lawsuit filed in a California state court.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe harassment, which occurred mostly at Tesla's Fremont, California factory, included using the terms "nigger", "slavery" or "plantation" or making sexual comments such as "likes booty," the lawsuit said, adding that the automaker's "standard operating procedures include blatant, open and unmitigated race discrimination".Some of the plaintiffs were assigned to the most physically demanding posts in Tesla or passed over for promotion, according to the lawsuit.It said that Montieco Justice, a production associate at Tesla's Fremont factory, was immediately demoted upon returning to Tesla after taking an authorized leave of absence as a result contracting COVID-19.Tesla did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.The automaker is facing at least 10 lawsuits alleging widespread race discrimination or sexual harassment, including one by a California civil rights agency. read more It previously has denied wrongdoing and says it has policies in place to prevent and address workplace misconduct.On Monday, a federal judge in California ordered a new trial on the damages Tesla owes to a Black former factory worker who accused the company of race discrimination, after he turned down a $15 million award. read more This month, a Tesla shareholder filed a lawsuit accusing CEO Elon Musk and the company's board of directors of neglecting worker complaints and fostering a toxic workplace culture. read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Hyunjoo Jin; editing by Peter Henderson and Edwina GibbsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Civil Rights Activism |
A Progress Pride flag and rainbow flags are seen at the Stonewall National Monument, the first US national monument dedicated to LGBTQ history and rights, marking the birthplace of the modern lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer civil rights movement, on June 1, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Angela Weiss/AFP) (NEXSTAR) – Flags have long been a fundamental part of human history. You can find flags for cities and towns, sports teams and political parties, brands and memes, and nearly anything else. For members of the LGBTQ community, flags are an equally important tradition. “They are a visible representation of identity that people use in celebration, in protest, or even as a casual adornment,” reads a blog post by OutRight Action International, an LGBTQIA human rights organization. Below are five of the most common LGBTQ flags and what they signify. Rainbow Pride Flag The most recognizable LGBTQ flag is the Rainbow Pride Flag, seen below, created by Gilbert Baker. Mirroring the rainbow, this flag was first flown in the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade in June 1978. Pink was originally included in the flag, but was removed after a year because of a shortage of fabric, according to the University of Northern Colorado. Each color carries a different meaning: red, for life; orange, healing; yellow, sunlight; green, nature; blue, harmony or peace; and violet, spirit. The pink stripe stood for sexuality, explains the LGBTQA+ Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Rainbow Pride Flag (Getty) Philadelphia Pride Flag Nearly 40 years later, the Philadelphia Pride Flag was created to make the original Pride Flag more inclusive for people of color in light of racism in “the thriving Gayborhood of Philadelphia.” The flag, pictured below, was designed by a Philadelphia-based PR agency, Tierney, for the city’s “More Color More Pride” campaign in 2017. “We created a new design for the flag by adding two new colors, black and brown,” Tierney explains on its website. “Not just to change the flag, but to raise awareness and help fuel this important conversation.” In this Monday, June 19, 2017, Philadelphia’s altered gay pride flag is seen outside City Hall. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) The rebooted Pride Flag In 2018, graphic artist Daniel Quasar designed the Progress Pride Flag, seen below. The updated rendition of the original Pride Flag added a multi-color arrow “to highlight and honor Queer People of Color and the Transgender community.” The arrow, seen in the picture below, holds two meanings, according to UNCO. The black and brown stripes represent the Black and Latinx queer communities while the blue, pink, and white are a nod to the Transgender Pride Flag. Each of the remaining colors holds the same meaning as they did in the traditional rainbow flag. A Progress Pride flag and rainbow flags are seen at the Stonewall National Monument, the first US national monument dedicated to LGBTQ history and rights, marking the birthplace of the modern lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer civil rights movement, on June 1, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Angela Weiss/AFP) Transgender Pride Flag The Transgender Pride Flag was designed in 1999 by Monica Helms, an openly transgender woman in the U.S., according to OutRight International. While it appears as a triangle in the Progress Pride flag, the actual Transgender Pride flag contains five stripes: two light blue, two light pink, and one white. Helms, a Navy veteran, explained the blue and pink signify the traditional colors for baby boys and girls, respectively. The white represents intersex, transitioning, or a neutral or undefined gender. Helms was encouraged to create the flag by Michael Page, who created the bisexual flag, according to the U.S. Veterans Affairs, and debuted the flag during a Pride parade in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2000. NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 28: (L-R) Co-owners of the Stonewall Inn Stacy Lentz and Kurt Kelly are gifted the transgender pride flag from Monica Helms during the Stonewall 50th Commemoration rally during WorldPride NYC 2019 on June 28, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) Bisexual Pride Flag Page’s Bisexual Pride flag also features three colors: pink, purple, and blue. The pink represents attraction to those of the same gender, the purple for attraction to two genders, and blue for those who identify as a different gender, UNCO explains. The flag was unveiled in 1998 during the first anniversary of BiCafe, a bisexual website. Bisexual Pride Flag (Getty) This is by no means an exhaustive list – there are numerous pride flags used by the LGBTQ community and their allies, with new flags being conceptualized and used, according to Outright International. In recent years, more and more cities and states have begun flying the rainbow flag outside government buildings during June, which is annually recognized as Pride Month. | Civil Rights Activism |
BOSTON (AP) — A tomahawk once owned by Chief Standing Bear, a pioneering Native American civil rights leader, has been returned to his tribe after being housed for decades in a museum at Harvard University.Members of the Ponca tribes in Nebraska and Oklahoma visited the Massachusetts university on June 3 for the ceremonial return of the artifact, the tribes said in a recent announcement.Standing Bear had originally gifted the pipe-tomahawk to one of his lawyers after winning the 1879 court case that made him one of the first Native Americans granted civil rights.The tomahawk changed hands several times before being acquired by Harvard in 1982. “This is a good homecoming and a good step in the many steps we have to do to get back to our identity, to our ways of our people,” Angie Starkel, a member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska who made the trip to Cambridge, said in a statement.Stacy Laravie, a descendant of Standing Bear who is also the historic preservation officer for the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, agreed.“We talk about generational trauma, but we don’t talk about generational healing, and that’s what we’re doing now,” she said in a statement. “This is healing.”Jane Pickering, director of Harvard’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, said the tomahawk’s return reflects the institution’s desire to repair past harms. “The Peabody directly benefited from collecting practices that we acknowledge today ignored the wishes and values of families and communities,” she said in a statement.Harvard and the museum have faced criticism over the pace of repatriating Native American remains and other significant objects to tribes, as required under federal law.The museum and tribes have been working on the tomahawk’s return for more than a year; tribal members were slated to travel to campus before pandemic-related restrictions last year delayed it. The Ponca tribes say they will announce plans to exhibit the tomahawk at a later date. They were among many forcibly relocated from their homelands to other territories by the federal government in the 1800s.Standing Bear was arrested 1878 for leaving the tribe’s Oklahoma reservation in order to fulfill a promise he made to bury his eldest son back in their tribe’s homeland in Nebraska’s Niobrara River Valley.In his landmark federal trial, he successfully argued for the recognition of Native Americans as persons entitled to rights and protection under law. | Civil Rights Activism |
MINNEAPOLIS -- A federal judge on Thursday sentenced Derek Chauvin to 21 years in prison for violating George Floyd's civil rights, telling the former Minneapolis police officer that what he did was "simply wrong" and "offensive."U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson sharply criticized Chauvin for his actions on May 25, 2020, when the white officer pinned Floyd to the pavement outside a Minneapolis corner store for more than 9 minutes as the Black man lay dying. Floyd's killing sparked protests worldwide in a reckoning over police brutality and racism."I really don't know why you did what you did," Magnuson said. "To put your knee on a person's neck until they expired is simply wrong. ... Your conduct is wrong and it is offensive."Magnuson, who earlier this year presided over the federal trial and convictions of three other officers at the scene, blamed Chauvin alone for what happened. Chauvin was by far the senior officer present, and rebuffed questions from one of the others about whether Floyd should be turned on his side."You absolutely destroyed the lives of three young officers by taking command of the scene," Magnuson said.Even so, Magnuson's sentence was at the low end of the 20 to 25 years called for in a plea agreement in which Chauvin will serve the federal sentence at the same time he serves his 22 1/2-year sentence on state charges of murder and manslaughter.Because of differences in parole eligibility in the state and federal systems, it means that Chauvin will serve slightly more time behind bars than he would have on the state sentence alone. He will also do his time in the federal system, where he may be safer and may be held under fewer restrictions than in the state system.Chauvin attorney Eric Nelson had asked for 20 years, arguing that Chauvin was remorseful and would make that clear to the court. But Chauvin, in brief remarks, made no direct apology or expression of remorse to Floyd's family.Instead, he told the family that he wishes Floyd's children "all the best in their life" and that they have "excellent guidance in becoming good adults."In entering his federal plea last year, Chauvin for the first time admitted that he kept his knee on Floyd's neck - even as the Black man pleaded, "I can't breathe," and then became unresponsive - killing Floyd. Chauvin admitted he willfully deprived Floyd of his right to be free from unreasonable seizure, including unreasonable force by a police officer.Magnuson has not set sentencing dates for the three other officers who were on the scene - Tou Thao, J. Alexander Keung and Thomas Lane - who were convicted in February of federal civil rights charges.Lane is also due to be sentenced Sept. 21 after pleading guilty in state court to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. Thao and Kueng turned down plea deals and are due to be tried in state court Oct. 24 on aiding and abetting charges. Copyright © 2022 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. | Civil Rights Activism |
Disgraced ex-police officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison Thursday for multiple federal civil rights charges surrounding the death of George Floyd that sparked a nationwide outcry and a summer of protests in 2020. The former Minneapolis police officer, who is already jailed on state murder charges for his role in the death of Floyd, received his sentence in federal court on two counts of violating Floyd's civil rights after he agreed to a sentence facing between 20 to 25 years in his December plea to a federal charge in Floyd's killing. Directing a statement to Floyd's family, Chauvin said he wished Floyd's children "all the best in their life" and that they have "excellent guidance in becoming good adults," though he did not issue a direct apology. He also said he recognizes the difficulty of the court in the "politically charged environment" and that the court strives for fairness. FEDERAL JUDGE ACCEPTS PLEA DEAL FOR DEREK CHAUVIN IN CIVIL RIGHTS CASE In this screen grab from a video, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is seen during victim impact statements as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides over the sentencing on June 25, 2021, in Minneapolis. (Court TV, via AP, Pool) Chauvin's defense attorney Eric Nelson asked for a "low end" 20 years in prison, saying their client accepts responsibility for his actions and that he is not at risk for a repeat offense. He already received a sentence of 22.5 years in prison from a state court in June 2021 for the murder of Floyd. U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson made the final decision. Before the sentencing, Magnuson told Chauvin: "I really don't know why you did what you did, but kneeling on someone until they expire is simply wrong and for that you will be punished." Prosecutors wanted a full 25 years, arguing Chauvin's actions were cruel and unnecessary. Those sentiments were also brought by Floyd's brother, Philonise Floyd, who gave a passionate plea for the maximum sentence. “My brother was murdered in broad daylight with a knee to his neck for nine minutes," he said Thursday. Other members of Floyd's family, including his girlfriend Courteney Ross, were present in court for the sentencing Thursday. "Mr. Chauvin, I do not hate you. I am still working to forgive you," Ross said Thursday. She also said she "fell to the ground in devastation" when she learned of Floyd's death, adding, ""It is difficult to explain what was taken from me ... Floyd was the man I loved... I miss laughing with him," according to CBS News. A May plea agreement, accepted by Magnuson, sought to extend Chauvin's sentence while potentially relocating him to more favorable conditions in federal prison. By entering his federal plea, the former officer admitted for the first time that he kept his knee on Floyd's neck despite Floyd repeating the statement "I can't breathe" several times before he became unresponsive during the May 2020 arrest. Chauvin, a white man, pleaded guilty to federal charges in December that he abused his power to violate the civil rights of Floyd, a black man, thereby avoiding a possible life sentence in prison. During the hearing last year, he addressed the Floyd family and said: "I want to give my condolences to the Floyd family. There is going to be some other information in the future that would be of interest, and I hope things will give you some peace of mind." While Chauvin's sentence calls for him to serve the federal sentence at the same time as the state one, which will render him a longer stay behind bars than he would have faced with the state sentence alone, experts say the deal could mean safer conditions in the federal system. The ex-officer may risk encountering inmates in Minnesota state prison whom he previously arrested or investigated. Although he may be viewed as a former law enforcement officer, a sentence in federal prison may reduce the risk of running into inmates he directly encountered during his career. Chauvin would also have more allowances to work and participate in programming and chances to move about the facility. This undated file photo provided by Christopher Harris shows George Floyd. Floyd died on May 25 after he was pinned to the pavement by a police officer who put his knee on the handcuffed black man's neck until he stopped breathing. (Christopher Harris via AP, File) CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The video showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes during an arrest in Minneapolis in May 2020. Floyd repeatedly said he couldn't breathe before losing consciousness and was later pronounced dead. The events of that day spurred a wave of protests in Minneapolis and around the country against police brutality and racial inequalities. The three other former officers present during the arrest, Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng, and Tou Thao, were convicted of violating Floyd's civil rights in February and are awaiting sentencing. | Civil Rights Activism |
Michigan's Gov. Whitmer says ruling means her state's 1931 law banning abortion takes effect Michigan's Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement Friday it was a "sad day for America" and that her state's "antiquated" 1931 law banning abortion without exceptions for rape or incest will take effect. The law also criminalizes doctors and nurse who provide reproductive care, said Whitmer. "For now, a Michigan court has put a temporary hold on the law, but that decision is not final and has already been challenged. The 1931 law would punish women and strip away their right to make decisions about their own bodies," she said. "I want every Michigander to know that I am more determined than ever to protect access to safe, legal abortion."Whitmer said she filed a lawsuit in April to urge her state's Supreme Court to determine whether Michigan's state constitution protects the right to an abortion. "We need to clarify that under Michigan law, access to abortion is not only legal, but constitutionally protected," she said. Barack Obama calls Roe v. Wade reversal an attack on millionsTat Bellamy-Walker3m ago / 3:33 PM UTCFormer President Barack Obama said the court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade targets the freedom of millions of Americans in the U.S. "Today, the Supreme Court not only reversed nearly 50 years of precedent, it relegated the most intensely personal decision someone can make to the whims of politicians and ideologues—attacking the essential freedoms of millions of Americans," he wrote in a tweet. He noted that states across the country have already passed bills restricting abortion rights, and pointed people who want to fight against these restrictions toward Planned Parenthood and the United State of Women.In a statement, former first lady Michelle Obama said she was "heartbroken for people around this country who just lost the fundamental right to make informed decisions about their own bodies."Recent NBC News poll showed a majority of people in U.S. didn't want Roe v. Wade overturnedA majority of people in the U.S. — 63 percent — said in a recent NBC News poll in May that they didn't believe Roe v. Wade should be overturned, compared to 30% of people who wanted the abortion rights ruling to be reversed.Additionally, a combined 60% of Americans across the country said abortion should be either always legal (37%) or legal most of the time (23%) — the highest share believing it should be legal on this question, which dates back to 2003. By party, 84 percent of Democrats and 63 percent of Independents want abortion to be legal, versus just 33 percent of Republicans. The poll was conducted after the draft opinion of Alito's Roe opinion leaked.NAACP calls decision 'egregious assault on basic human rights'NAACP General Counsel Janette McCarthy Wallace said in a statement Friday the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade as "marks a significant regression of our country.""As a legal professional, I am horrified by this decision. As a Black woman, I am outraged to my core," Wallace said. "There is no denying the fact that this is a direct attack on all women, and Black women stand to be disproportionately impacted by the court's egregious assault on basic human rights. We must all stand up to have our voices heard in order to protect our nation from the further degradation of civil rights protections we have worked so hard to secure."Separately, Portia White, the NAACP vice president of policy and legislative affairs, said: "This Supreme Court is turning back the clock to a dangerous era where basic constitutional rights only exist for a select few. They've stripped away our right to vote, and now women have lost their right to their own body. What’s next?"White added: "We cannot allow our future to rest in the hands of those determined to crush every bit of it. We need to fight back."Biden to address Supreme Court ruling in remarks at 12:30 p.m. ETPresident Joe Biden will address the Supreme Court's ruling in remarks at approximately 12:30 p.m. ET, according to the White House.The guidance said that Biden will deliver his response in the Cross Hall.Durbin announces Judiciary hearing to explore "grim reality of a post-Roe America"Christopher Cicchiello16m ago / 3:20 PM UTCSenate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing next month to "explore the grim reality of a post-Roe America."Durbin, who chairs the committee, made the announcement in a series of tweets in which he vowed to keep "fighting to enshrine into law a woman’s right to make her own reproductive choices.” "The Court’s decision to erase the right to an abortion will not only lead to the denial of critical health care services, but also criminal consequences for women & health care providers in states eager to embrace draconian restrictions," Durbin wrote. "We cannot let our children inherit a nation that is less free and more dangerous than the one their parents grew up in."He also urged voters to elect "pro-choice Democrats who will write abortion protections into law" in the midterm elections.LGBTQ rights could be at risk post-Roe, advocates warned before rulingJulie Moreau18m ago / 3:18 PM UTCThe leaked initial draft of the Supreme Court opinion overturning Roe v. Wade had advocates worried about what the precedent’s reversal could mean for the LGBTQ community’s recently gained rights. Cathryn Oakley, an attorney with the Human Rights Campaign, the country’s largest LGBTQ rights group, stressed that the high court’s decision would have a direct impact on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. “The LGBTQ community relies on reproductive health care. LGBTQ people seek and receive abortions, they seek and receive and use contraception,” she said. The willingness of the court to overturn precedent could, some advocates fear, signal that other federally protected rights of minorities may be in jeopardy, such as same-sex marriage, which became the law of the land with the Obergefell v. Hodges case. Read more about what LGBTQ rights advocates warned before Friday's ruling.Virginia Gov. Youngkin says Supreme Court ruling 'rightfully returned power to the people'Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade "has rightfully returned power to the people" and the elected officials of each state. "I’m proud to be a pro-life Governor and plan to take every action I can to protect life," he said in a statement Friday. "The truth is, Virginians want fewer abortions, not more abortions. We can build a bipartisan consensus on protecting the life of unborn children, especially when they begin to feel pain in the womb, and importantly supporting mothers and families who choose life."Youngkin, a Republican, said he has called on several lawmakers, including state Sens. Siobhan Dunnavant and Steve Newman, to help "find areas where we can agree and chart the most successful path forward."The Virginia Assembly is controlled by Republicans and the Senate has a narrow 19-21 Democratic majority. Manchin says he's 'alarmed,' had trusted Gorsuch and Kavanaugh when they said Roe was settled precedentSen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said in a statement that he is "deeply disappointed" by the Supreme Court's decision and "alarmed" that the two Trump-appointed justices that he voted to confirm supported it."I trusted Justice Gorsuch and Justice Kavanaugh when they testified under oath that they also believed Roe v. Wade was settled legal precedent and I am alarmed they chose to reject the stability the ruling has provided for two generations of Americans," he said.Manchin said he was raised "pro-life" as a Catholic and still maintains that view. "But I have come to accept that my definition of pro-life may not be someone else’s definition of pro-life. I believe that exceptions should be made in instances of rape, incest and when the life of the mother is in jeopardy," he said. Manchin said that he supports legislation that would codify Roe v. Wade into federal law, saying, "I am hopeful Democrats and Republicans will come together to put forward a piece of legislation that would do just that."Thomas calls on court to reconsider contraception, same-sex marriage casesJustice Clarence Thomas, concurring with the majority ruling, explicitly called on the Supreme Court to overrule the rulings in Griswold v. Connecticut, which protects the right to contraception; Lawrence v. Texas, the right to same-sex intimacy; and Obergefell v. Hodges, the right to same-sex marriage.“As I have previously explained, 'substantive due process' is an oxymoron that 'lack[s] any basis in the Constitution,'” he wrote.Chief Justice Roberts warns Dobbs ruling goes too farChief Justice John Roberts voted with the other conservative justices to uphold the Mississippi law in today's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling, but urged against going further.“Surely we should adhere closely to principles of judicial restraint here, where the broader path the Court chooses entails repudiating a constitutional right we have not only previously recognized, but also expressly reaffirmed applying the doctrine of stare decisis,” he wrote.ACLU slams court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade as "shameful"Tat Bellamy-Walker28m ago / 3:07 PM UTCThe American Civil Liberties Union called the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade "shameful."“Second-class status for women has once again become the law because of today’s decision," Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the ACLU, said in a statement. "We can wave away any pretense that this is the United States of America when it comes to the fundamental right to decide when and if to become a parent." Romero warned that the decision will have far-reaching consequences.“The Supreme Court has just plunged this country and itself into a historic crisis, one that will reverberate far beyond the ability to get an abortion."Alito says Constitution 'makes no reference to abortion'Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito wrote in his majority opinion overturning Roe v. Wade that the Constitution "makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision" including the due process clause of the 14th Amendment. "It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives," wrote Alito, who then quoted from an opinion written by then-Justice Antonin Scalia from the Planned Parenthood v. Casey case: "The permissibility of abortion, and the limitations, upon it, are to be resolved like most important questions in our democracy: by citizens trying to persuade one another and then voting."In emotional remarks, Nancy Pelosi denounces Supreme Court, Trump, GOPIn searing and emotional remarks, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi excoriated the Supreme Court for overturning Roe v. Wade and blamed former President Donald Trump and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for laying the groundwork for the decision."Because of Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, the Republican Party and their supermajority on the Supreme Court, American women today have less freedom than their mothers," Pelosi told reporters at a news conference.She described the top court's ruling as "dangerous" and urged people who support abortion rights and access to vote in the November midterm elections."In the Congress, be aware of this, Republicans are plotting a nationwide abortion ban. They cannot be allowed to have a majority in the Congress to do that," Pelosi said.'Today, Life Won,' Pence saysFormer Vice President Mike Pence, who has long been opposed to abortion, celebrated the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, saying "Today, Life Won.""By overturning Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court of the United States has given the American people a new beginning for life and I commend the Justices in the majority for having the courage of their convictions," he wrote in a series of tweets."Now that Roe v. Wade has been consigned to the ash heap of history," he continued, "a new arena in the cause of life has emerged and it is incumbent on all who cherish the sanctity of life to resolve that we will take the defense of the unborn and support for women in crisis pregnancies to every state Capitol in America."He added, "Having been given this second chance for Life, we must not rest and must not relent until the sanctity of life is restored to the center of American law in every state in the land."March for Life president praises decision to overturn Roe v. WadeAntonio Planas36m ago / 3:00 PM UTCMarch for Life President Jeanne Mancini praised the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn an “unpopular and extreme abortion policy on our nation.”March for Life is an annual rally held in the nation’s capital condemning the 1973 decision by the nation’s highest court that legalized abortion nationwide.“Today, the ability to determine whether and when to limit abortion was returned to the American people who have every right to enact laws like Mississippi’s which protect mothers and unborn babies after 15 weeks — when they have fully formed noses, can suck their thumb, and feel pain,” Mancini said in a statement. “We will continue to march until abortion is unthinkable because equality begins in the womb.”In concurrence, Kavanaugh says states can't bar residents from traveling elsewhere for abortionIn a concurrence to the Supreme Court's ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote that states cannot block people from traveling to other states to seek an abortion because of the "constitutional right to interstate travel."But many legal observers and political analysts expect that exact issue will be at the center of the next chapter of this fight.'One of the darkest days our country has ever seen,' Schumer saysSenate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said a fundamental right was "stolen" from American women Friday when the Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade ruling that guaranteed a constitutional right to an abortion. He called it "one of the darkest days our country has ever seen." "Millions upon millions of American women are having their rights taken from them by five unelected Justices on the extremist MAGA court," he said in a statement. "These justices, appointed by Republicans and presiding without any accountability, have stolen a fundamental right to have an abortion away from American women in this country. These justices were intentionally appointed by Republicans to overturn Roe v. Wade and every Republican Senator knew this would happen if they voted to confirm these radical justices." Schumer, D-N.Y., condemned Republicans for their "complicit" decision in the ruling, saying it will have "consequences for women and families in this country.""Today’s decision makes crystal clear the contrast as we approach the November elections: elect more MAGA Republicans if you want nationwide abortion bans, the jailing of women and doctors and no exemptions for rape or incest," he continued. "Or, elect more pro-choice Democrats to save Roe and protect a woman’s right to make their own decisions about their body, not politicians."Rep. Dean blasts court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade as 'horrifying'Tat Bellamy-Walker45m ago / 2:50 PM UTCRep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., condemned the court's decision."Absolutely horrifying," Dean said. "It's taking us back more than 50 years." She urged people to fight back against the opinion."People need to be out protesting," she said. "Peacefully protesting and voting.” INTERACTIVE: Live in a state set to ban abortions? See how far you’d have to travel for careWithout Roe v. Wade, women and girls seeking an abortion in states where the procedure will be banned will face long treks, often by multiple means of transportation, in order to get care.NBC News analyzed the distance to the nearest open abortion clinic from major cities in 21 states that either have pre-existing or pending state-level abortion bans that will go into effect following the Supreme Court’s ruling Friday to overturn Roe. Women and girls there will have to drive 4 hours on average in order to receive care in bordering states where abortion remains legal.View the graphic here. Mississippi AG: 'Roe v. Wade is finally behind us'Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, a Republican who advocated for the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, celebrated what she characterized as a "new era in American history."Pelosi says Supreme Court achieved Republicans' 'dark and extreme goal' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the Supreme Court has "achieved the GOP's dark and extreme goal of ripping away women's right to make their own reproductive health decisions." "Because of Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, the Republican Party and their supermajority on the Supreme Court, American women today have less freedom than their mothers," she wrote in a statement.Pelosi said that congressional Republicans are "plotting a nationwide abortion ban," and vowed that "Democrats will keep fighting ferociously to enshrine Roe v. Wade into law.""This cruel ruling is outrageous and heart-wrenching," she added. "But make no mistake: the rights of women and all Americans are on the ballot this November."Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene celebrates decision overturning RoeMarjorie Taylor Greene, the firebrand Republican congresswoman from Georgia, told reporters Friday that the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade is a "blessing" and an "answered prayer.""I've prayed for this my whole life," Greene said.Democratic PACs say voters must 'fight like hell' this November Two major Democratic political action committees, the Senate Majority PAC and House Majority PAC, criticized the high court in a joint statement Friday for taking away a woman's constitutional right to an abortion. Senate Majority PAC President JB Poersch and House Majority PAC Executive Director Abby Curran Horrell said the ruling "flies in the face of decades of precedent and is a direct assault on the constitutional right to a safe, legal abortion that’s been guaranteed for nearly a half-century."They said that abortion rights will be a top issue in the current midterm elections cycle, saying they "will determine whether Republicans can place cruel new restrictions on reproductive rights, ban abortion nationwide with no exceptions, criminalize abortion providers, and punish women. The stakes of defending our Democratic Senate and House majorities have never been higher.""Come November, we must elect Democrats to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives who will fight like hell to ensure that our constitutional rights are enshrined into law and serve as the last line of defense against Republicans’ extremist attacks on our fundamental freedoms," they said. Planned Parenthood: 'The court has failed us all'Planned Parenthood, one of the leading providers of reproductive health care in the U.S., said in a tweet that the Supreme Court has "failed us all" but added "this is far from over."Key abortion rights group blasts Supreme Court decisionThe Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights, excoriated the "anti-abortion ideologues on the U.S. Supreme Court" who overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday."The U.S. Supreme Court has taken the radical step of overturning Roe v. Wade outright, thus unleashing uncertainty and harm onto people asking for nothing more than to exercise their fundamental right to bodily autonomy," Guttmacher Institute President and CEO Dr. Herminia Palacio said."While much has been lost today, the fight is far from over," she added. "The anti-abortion movement is already pushing for a national abortion ban. All of us seeking to defend policies that support bodily autonomy must be ready to meet them with all we have."We must protect abortion rights and access in as many states as possible and achieve federal legislation to ensure that anyone, anywhere who needs an abortion can get one freely and with dignity."House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy says ruling will 'save countless innocent lives'House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., applauded the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade on Friday, saying that the ruling will "save countless innocent lives." "The Supreme Court is right to return the power to protect the unborn to the people’s elected representatives in Congress and the states," he said in a statement.McCarthy added, "In the days and weeks following this decision, we must work to continue to reject extreme policies that seek to allow late-term abortions and taxpayer dollars to fund these elective procedures."The GOP leader also said that "much work remains to protect the most vulnerable among us."Supreme Court overturns Roe v. WadeThe Supreme Court on Friday overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that guaranteed a constitutional right to an abortion in a 6-3 vote, a momentous break from a half-century of rulings on one of the nation’s most controversial issues. About half the states have already indicated they would move to ban the procedure.Supporters of abortion rights were bracing for the loss after an early draft of the opinion was leaked in May, touching off several days of demonstrations in more than two dozen cities. Protesters even showed up outside the homes of some members of the court.Read more here. | Civil Rights Activism |
Pride month events around the country are stepping up security alongside a wave of attacks and violent threats from far-right extremists and a surge in anti-LGBTQ rhetoric from the GOP. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, Pride marshalls are taking active shooter training for the first time as part of their preparations and have introduced new restrictions about what sort of bags people can bring into the main event. And Chicago’s Police Superintendent recently said at a press conference that officers from the Joint Terrorism Task Force were working with the FBI and other federal agencies to gather intelligence and monitor for threats, particularly coming from individuals on watchlists, ahead of the upcoming Pride Parade.For many cities, Pride festivities are resuming for the first time following a two-year hiatus due to COVID. But what should be a celebrated return to business as usual has been hampered by the current climate of threats. Earlier this month, 31 members of white nationalist group Patriot Front were arrested in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, piled into a U-haul on their way to disrupt an annual Pride event, according to police. In recent weeks, neo-Nazis have circulated a video showing an anonymous person smashing a shop window featuring a Pride flag, that bears the caption “Do not tolerate evil.”And a man in Whidbey Island, Washington, was arrested on charges of civil rights malicious harassment with a hate crime enhancement after his queer neighbor raised the alarm about his violent anti-LGBTQ social media posts, including ones that referenced upcoming pride festivities and direct threats toward her. The current intensity of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and activism has been fueled, in part, by the mainstreaming of “groomer” conspiracies, which traffic in tired tropes about the LGBTQ community and sexual predation, specifically on children. Far-right forums are also awash with violent rhetoric likening Pride events to satanic rituals and saying members of the LGBTQ community should be hanged. Drag Queen Story Hours have been the latest target for this moral panic; proponents of anti-grooming rhetoric baselessly claim that those events are inherently sexual and therefore not appropriate for children. Earlier this month, uniformed members of the Proud Boys stormed a Drag Queen Story Hour in California’s Bay Area shouting homophobic and transphobic slurs: One of them wore a T-shirt with the words “kill your local pedophile.” In some cases, organizers of Pride festivities have had to weigh the risks of possibly antagonistic counter-demonstrators and violence, with the optics of adding more law enforcement to their events. Police involvement in Pride events is a controversial topic, given that the month of June is meant to commemorate the LGBTQ civil rights movements and offer a reminder of the brutality activists endured at the hands of police during the Stonewall Riots, which were a series of protests by the gay community in New York City during the summer of 1969. One group organizing a Pride event in Austin, Texas, were initially wary about making contact with police but was revisiting that plan following the Patriot Front arrests in Idaho, according to the Texas Tribune. While it’s not particularly new that the far-right espouses homophobic or transphobic views, it is remarkable how the entire Right—from neo-Nazis, nationalist street gangs, and militias, to QAnon conspiracy theorists, Fox News, and the GOP—have coalesced with such uniformity around anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. The cohesion has created a dangerous environment, where fringe actors may feel empowered to commit acts of violence in the name of the bigotry they see or hear from “legitimate” sources, such as members of Congress or cable news. Anti-LGBTQ sentiment and rhetoric has also taken hold in mainstream GOP politics. State legislatures filed more than 240 bills targeting the LGBTQ community this year, the majority of which take aim at trans youth. Late last month, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green baselessly claimed that straight people were at risk of extinction and said that Pride month “needs to end.” The Texas GOP adopted a new platform over the weekend that deems homosexuality as “abnormal” and vows to oppose “all efforts to validate transgender identity.”Get the latest from VICE News in your inbox. Sign up right here.By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Vice Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content. | Civil Rights Activism |
U.S. August 21, 2022 / 12:47 PM / AP Dorli Rainey, a self-described "old lady in combat boots" who became a symbol of the Occupy protest movement when she was photographed after being pepper-sprayed by Seattle police, has died. She was 95.The longtime political activist died on Aug. 12, the Seattle Times reported. Her daughter, Gabriele Rainey, told the newspaper her mom was "so active because she loved this country, and she wanted to make sure that the country was good to its people."Rainey was a fixture in the local progressive movement for decades, demonstrating for racial justice, affordable housing and public transit, and against war, nuclear weapons and big banks. In November 2011, in the early days of the Occupy Wall Street movement, Rainey, then 84, joined protesters in blocking downtown intersections. She was hit when Seattle police used pepper spray to clear the crowd.Fellow protesters poured milk over her face to ease the sting, and a seattlepi.com photographer, Joshua Trujillo, captured a stunning image of her staring defiantly into the camera, her eyes red and milk dripping off her face. Dorli Rainey, 84, center, who was pepper-sprayed by police while taking part in an "Occupy Seattle" protest, smiles before speaking on Nov. 18, 2011, in front of police headquarters in downtown Seattle. Ted S. Warren / AP The photo become a worldwide symbol for the protest movement. She was profiled by The Washington Post, The Atlantic, The Associated Press and The Guardian. "It's a gruesome picture," she told the AP. "I'm really not that bad looking."Then-Mayor Mike McGinn apologized and ordered a review of the incident. Rainey was back out protesting a couple days later."Dorli is legendary, and deservedly so, for her activism," McGinn said Friday. "She was just omnipresent and a conscience and a voice for change, and I deeply, deeply, deeply respected her."Rainey was born in Austria in 1926. She was a Red Cross nurse and then worked in Europe as a technical translator for the U.S. Army for 10 years. She married Max Rainey, a civil engineer who got a job with Boeing, and they moved to the Seattle area in 1956. She worked as a court-appointed special advocate, representing children who have experienced abuse or neglect, and as a real-estate agent. She served on the Issaquah School Board and ran for King County Council a half-century ago, and she made a brief run for Seattle mayor in 2009.She had three children, Gabriele, of Asheville, North Carolina; Michael, of Boston; and Andrea, who died in 2014. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Max. Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue | Civil Rights Activism |
Scotland's leader calls out Roe decisionScotland's leader on Friday warned that the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade would "embolden anti-abortion and anti-women forces" beyond the United States."One of the darkest days for women’s rights in my lifetime," Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, said in a tweet. "Obviously the immediate consequences will be suffered by women in the US — but this will embolden anti-abortion & anti-women forces in other countries too. Solidarity doesn’t feel enough right now — but it is necessary."McCarthy praises court's decisionHouse Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy praised the decision of the court during a Friday press conference. "By a vote of 6-3 the court affirmed that the power to protect unborn life is returned to the people by their elected representatives," McCarthy said. "This great nation can now live up to its core principal that all people are created equal — not born equal, created equal."He added that the decision would "save the lives of millions of children" and "give families hope."Sharpton says court's decision brings us 'back to the dark ages' Tat Bellamy-Walker6m ago / 4:46 PM UTCThe Rev. Al Sharpton, the longtime civil rights advocate, said Friday that Black women and poor women will be disproportionately affected by the court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. "The Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe vs Wade is a blatant attempt to bring us back to the dark ages," Sharpton, president of the National Action Network, wrote in a tweet. "It will disproportionately impact Black women, and poor women. This must be resisted aggressively. States must enact laws to protect women." British doctors union calls Roe decision 'deeply worrying'A senior official at the British Medical Association, the United Kingdom's doctors union, on Friday said the Supreme Court's decision overturning abortion rights could have an impact beyond the United States. “The news that restrictions to abortions could be made law in some U.S. states ... is deeply worrying for the future of women’s reproductive health," Zoe Greaves, chair of the group's medical ethics committee, said in a written statement. "The BMA, along with multiple other health organizations, is concerned that this will remove women’s access to essential medical care, a fundamental human right as stated by the U.N., both in the U.S. and potentially more widely," she said. The organization added in a statement that it would be weighing the decision's implications to determine how best to support the American Medical Association in its opposition to the "criminalization of reproductive health."First lady Jill Biden was with DeSantis when Roe decision came downJosh Lederman13m ago / 4:40 PM UTCFirst lady Jill Biden was with Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis when she learned of the Supreme Court ruling, a White House official told NBC News.The first lady was preparing to go onstage at the memorial for the one year anniversary of the Champlain Tower collapse in Surfside, Florida, along with DeSantis and his wife in a holding room. Moments before the first lady walked on stage, the news alerts popped up on everyone’s phones.In April, DeSantis signed a Florida law banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.Democratic governors in the West pledge to stand up for abortion rightsDemocratic governors in California, Oregon and Washington said Friday they will continue to "protect" patients seeking reproductive care, including those from other states seeking abortions.California's Gavin Newsom, Oregon's Kate Brown and Washington's Jay Inslee made the announcement in a video message released after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, presenting themselves as a counterweight to "red states and Republican-stacked courts.""California, Oregon and Washington are building the West Coast offense to protect patients' access to reproductive care," Newsom said.Inslee said: "We're going to work with our legislators, with our providers, with our patient advocates."Brown said: "We will not stand on the sidelines."'With sorrow...we dissent': Court's liberal wing says majority decided women not deserving of equal protectionIn a blistering dissent to the court's decision reversing abortion rights, the justices on the bench’s liberal wing slammed the majority opinion as one that would curtail women's rights.“It says that from the very moment of fertilization, a woman has no rights to speak of. A State can force her to bring a pregnancy to term, even at the steepest personal and familial costs,” Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan wrote in the lengthy dissent."With sorrow — for this Court, but more, for the many millions of American women who have today lost a fundamental constitutional protection — we dissent," they added.Read the full story here.Planned Parenthood Wisconsin temporarily suspends abortion servicesAntonio Planas17m ago / 4:35 PM UTCPlanned Parenthood Wisconsin announced Friday it was “temporarily suspending” abortion services in response to the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.In a video statement on the organization’s website, the group's president, Tanya Atkinson, lamented the Supreme Court’s decision because it has taken away a constitutional right from women and instead placed health care decisions in the hands of politicians.“Because Wisconsin’s criminal abortion ban remains in effect, Planned Parenthood Wisconsin is temporarily suspending abortion services,” she said. “Please know that we are looking at all legal options available. This news is so incredibly devastating. The decision of whether or not to become a parent can be one of the most life-changing decisions a person can make,” she said. “You should be able to make the very personal, very needed health care decisions.”Atkinson added that although abortion services are not available in Wisconsin, the organization is still there for people who need abortions and will counsel them on finding options where abortions are safe and legal. The group, she said, will also be available for “after-care” services. Other services provided by the organization are also available at its centers or through telehealth, she said.“Planned Parenthood Wisconsin stands for health care, and we will not give up, not now, not ever,” she said.Anger and joy outside Supreme CourtTears flowed and voices bellowed outside the Supreme Court early Friday, as activists on both sides of the abortion issue gathered to bear witness to the end of the Roe era. "It's really a visceral issue," said Mai El-Sadany, a human rights lawyer who opposes Friday's decision. "The people who showed up here are really angry and they didn’t want to be alone." Paige Nelson, 20, cried tears of joy on the street in front of the Supreme Court, where the grounds long used for demonstrations have been closed off for weeks as a security precaution."I’m just so happy that no matter who you are and whatever extra chromosomes or whatever disability you might have, you get the chance to live this amazing life, and I will continue advocating until abortion is completely gone," said Nelson, a Washington state resident who is participating in a summer program with the conservative Concerned Women of America.Canadian PM Justin Trudeau calls Roe decision 'horrific'Reuters22m ago / 4:30 PM UTCCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday called the Supreme Court decision "horrific."“The news coming out of the United States is horrific. My heart goes out to the millions of American women who are now set to lose their legal right to an abortion,” Trudeau said on Twitter.“No government, politician, or man should tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her body,” he said.GOP Sen. Mitt Romney says he supports Roe's reversalSen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, praised the Supreme Court's ruling Friday in a brief statement. "The sanctity of human life is a foundational American principle, and the lives of our children—both born and unborn—deserve our protection," Romney said. "I support the Court’s decision, which means that laws regarding abortion will now rightfully be returned to the people and their elected representatives," he added.AG Merrick Garland says states cannot ban access to medications for abortionsAttorney General Merrick Garland vowed to protect access to Mifepristone, which is used along with another medication to end early pregnancies.“In particular, the FDA has approved the use of the medication Mifepristone. States may not ban Mifepristone based on disagreement with the FDA’s expert judgment about its safety and efficacy," he wrote in a statement.The Food and Drug Administration approved in 2016 the use of the medications in terminating abortions.The "Department will continue to protect healthcare providers and individuals seeking reproductive health services in states where those services remain legal," his statement added. "This law prohibits anyone from obstructing access to reproductive health services through violence, threats of violence, or property damage."Decision a 'dark moment,' British rights group says The Supreme Court’s decision is a “dark moment for the struggle for women’s liberation and the fight to control our own bodies,” the chair of a British rights group said Friday. ‘This is a hugely significant set back for abortion rights. Not just in the U.S. but it will embolden anti-abortion activists here and in Poland, Malta and other places where the struggle for access is already desperate,” Kerry Abel of Abortion Rights said in a statement. “Any chink in the legislative armour that undermines the right to privacy, makes access more difficult or puts abortion funding out of reach will impact poorer and marginalised women and pregnantpeople and will encourage yet more anti-abortion legislation and action,” she said. “This is a dark moment for the struggle for women’s liberation and the fight to control our own bodies,” she added.Rep. Jamie Raskin knocks Thomas, says they are not 'like real judges at this point'Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., knocked Justice Clarence Thomas, saying he is trying to "demolish the constitutional right to privacy" while blasting the high court's justices as an "instrument of the right-wing Republican agenda." "Roe versus Wade was built on Griswold versus Connecticut, which asserted a constitutional right to privacy for women and men to obtain contraception and birth control," Raskin said Friday. "They might like to pretend as if this is some kind of singular strike against just women's right to abortion, but it has implications for contraception. It has implications for the right of gay people to get married under the Obergefell decision. It has implications for the right of people not to be sterilized by the government against their will."Raskin added that the justices are "not like real judges at this point." "I mean, they’ve got the power of it, but they basically have turned themselves into partisans," he said.Sen. Susan Collins calls ruling 'not conservative' Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who voted to confirm Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh who were part of Friday's majority opinion, said in a statement that the ruling was an "ill-considered action" and "not conservative." "The Supreme Court has abandoned a fifty-year precedent at a time that the country is desperate for stability. This ill-considered action will further divide the country at a moment when, more than ever in modern times, we need the Court to show both consistency and restraint," Collins said. "Throwing out a precedent overnight that the country has relied upon for half a century is not conservative. It is a sudden and radical jolt to the country that will lead to political chaos, anger, and a further loss of confidence in our government."Collins said that the ruling was "inconsistent" with what Gorsuch and Kavanaugh said in their congressional testimony and in meetings with her where, she said, "they both were insistent on the importance of supporting long-standing precedents that the country has relied upon."Collins said she is working on a bill with Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., that would codify Roe, Casey, Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, and Griswold v. Connecticut."Our legislation would enshrine important abortion protections into law without undercutting statutes that have been in place for decades and without eliminating basic conscience protections that are relied upon by health care providers who have religious objections to performing abortions," she said.U.K.'s Boris Johnson calls Roe decision 'a big step backward'British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday said the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade would have a "massive" impact around the world. “This is not our court, it’s another jurisdiction, but it clearly has massive impacts on people’s thinking around the world," he said during a press conference in Kigali, Rwanda. "It’s a very important decision." "I think it’s a big step backwards," Johnson, who leads the Conservative Party, added. "I’ve always believed in a woman’s right to choose and I stick to that view and that is why the U.K. has the laws that it does.”Missouri governor signs state proclamation banning most abortionsChristopher Cicchiello34m ago / 4:19 PM UTCMissouri Gov. Mike Parson signed a proclamation Friday to activate its trigger law, banning most abortions.“Nothing in the text, history, or tradition of the United States Constitution gave un-elected federal judges authority to regulate abortion. We are happy that the U.S. Supreme Court has corrected this error and returned power to the people and the states to make these decisions,” Parson, a Republican, said in a news release.This law makes it illegal for doctors to perform abortions and also makes anyone who knowingly induces an abortion guilty of a class B felony. Doctors can have their licenses revoked for their involvement. However, a woman who has an abortion will not be prosecuted "for a conspiracy to violate the provisions" of this act. No mention of an exception for a pregnancy resulting from rape or incest was provided in the act.Upon Parson’s signature, the act takes effect immediately.Texas GOP AG Ken Paxton says abortions are 'now illegal in Texas'Texas' GOP attorney general, Ken Paxton, announced Friday that abortion is now illegal in Texas as a result of the Supreme Court's ruling. "SCOTUS just overruled Roe & Casey, ending one of the most morally & legally corrupt eras in US history. Praise the Lord. Abortion is now illegal in Texas," he said in a tweet. Texas had on the books a trigger law, which immediately banned abortion once Roe came down.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, signed into law one of the country's most restrictive abortion bans last year, which took effect in September. It had banned abortions as early as six weeks, which effectively banned all abortions because most women don't know they're pregnant that early in the process. Whole Women's Health, an organization that has operated four clinics providing reproductive health services in Texas and other states, said it has stopped providing abortion procedures as a result of Friday's ruling, according to the Texas Tribune. In guidance posted on the organization's website Friday, it said that its clinics "are still operating in Baltimore, MD; Bloomington, MN; Alexandria, VA; and Charlottesville, VA." It also said that it offers medication abortion pills by mail to patients in Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico and Virginia.It also said Whole Women's Health "is exploring plans to expand both our in-clinic and mail services into additional states where abortion is legally protected."Democratic lawmakers march to Supreme Court in support of abortion rightsAt least 150 Democratic lawmakers marched to the Supreme Court on Friday to protest the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., told NBC News the decision marked "a sad day for American jurisprudence.""Never did I envision that this court would reverse 40 or 50 years of precedence, but they did it," he said. "And they did it in utter disregard for the 60% of the American people who support Roe and did not want it overturned."Conservative Hispanic group lauds court decisionBienvenido, a conservative Hispanic group, said the court's decision to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision was "correct as both a legal and a moral matter.""Today we join millions of Americans — including the majority of Hispanics who value human life — in celebrating the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling overturning 'Roe' and 'Casey,'" a statement from the group said. "It was always a lie that the Constitution guaranteed the right to kill unborn children and this Court has just exposed this lie for the shameful farce that it always has been," the statement continued. "As we commemorate this historic decision, let us remember these children who were denied the right to live, pray for forgiveness, and give thanks to God." According to Pew Research Center, 60% of Hispanics in 2022 said abortion should be legal. Transgender Law Center denounces Supreme Court decision as "despicable" Tat Bellamy-Walker1h ago / 3:51 PM UTCThe Transgender Law Center, one of the nation's largest transgender rights groups, slammed the court's decision, calling it "despicable" and a "politically-motivated" attack.In a statement, the organization stressed that the majority opinion will have an outsize impact on historically marginalized groups, including Black women, disabled people, migrant women, poor people and individuals living in rural communities.“Today we loudly affirm and pledge our solidarity with all people working for Reproductive Justice in this country,” the group's executive director, Kris Hayashi, said. “Whether it is a right to an abortion, the right to affirming medical care, or the right to learn about your own history in schools, our collective rights to self-determination and bodily autonomy are inexorably entwined.”'God made the decision': Trump praises the ruling overturning RoeFormer President Donald Trump praised the Supreme Court's ruling in a statement to Fox News on Friday, saying that it's "following the Constitution, and giving rights back when they should have been given long ago."Trump was asked if he played a role in the decision because he nominated three of the conservative justices who overturned Roe v. Wade — Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett."God made the decision," Trump told Fox. Asked to address any of his supporters who support abortion rights, Trump said, "I think, in the end, this is something that will work out for everybody ... This brings everything back to the states where it has always belonged."Trump had previously supported abortion rights years ago, telling NBC News' "Meet the Press" in 1999 that he was "very pro-choice" at the time.Susan B. Anthony List celebrates overturning of Roe v. WadeThe anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List celebrated news Friday of the Supreme Court overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, calling it a "historic victory for human rights." Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the group, said in a video message outside the Supreme Court that it was a moment of "great gratitude and resolve." "This Court has just overturned the wrongly decided Roe versus Wade decision. Let those words sink in," she said. "Roe versus Wade is overturned after 50 years of lobbying, building centers of hope to serve pregnant women, on our knees praying, off our knees marching and ensuring the powerful pro-life voice could be heard in our elections. We have arrived at this day, a culminating day of so much and the first day of a bright pro-life future for our nation."She said the decision allows the "will of the people to make its way into the law through our elected officials" and declared that "our best days are ahead."Attorney General Merrick Garland vows to 'use every tool' to protect abortion rightsAttorney General Merrick Garland, who as Barack Obama's 2016 Supreme Court nominee was denied a confirmation vote by then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, vowed to put the full weight of the Department of Justice behind protecting abortion rights."The Justice Department strongly disagrees with the Court’s decision," he said. "This decision deals a devastating blow to reproductive freedom in the United States. It will have an immediate and irreversible impact on the lives of people across the country. And it will be greatly disproportionate in its effect — with the greatest burdens felt by people of color and those of limited financial means."“The Justice Department will use every tool at our disposal to protect reproductive freedom. And we will not waver from this Department’s founding responsibility to protect the civil rights of all Americans," he added.Mayor Eric Adams says people around the country 'welcome' to access abortion care in New York City New York City Mayor Eric Adams lashed out at the Supreme Court on Friday, saying that "politics came before people at the highest court in the land." "What the court has done today ignores the opinions of the majority of Americans, as it helps states control women’s bodies, their choices, and their freedoms," the Democrat said in a statement, adding that the decision puts lives at risk."There is nothing to call this Supreme Court opinion but an affront to basic human rights and one that aims to shackle women and others in reproductive bondage."Adams sought to reassure New Yorkers, saying that they can still access safe, legal abortions in the city. He also said that people around the country seeking the procedure are "welcome here" to access those services.Massachusetts Gov. Baker signs executive order protecting abortion providersAntonio Planas1h ago / 3:39 PM UTCIn response to the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican who is not running for re-election, signed an executive order Friday protecting health care providers performing abortions from losing their licenses or receiving other discipline based on potential charges from out of state, he said in a statement.“Under the executive order, the Commonwealth will not cooperate with extradition requests from other states pursuing criminal charges against individuals who received, assisted with, or performed reproductive health services that are legal in Massachusetts,” the statement said.The order, he said, also prohibits any “Executive Department agencies” from assisting another state’s investigation into a person or entity for receiving or delivering reproductive health care services that are legal in Massachusetts.“This executive order will further preserve that right and protect reproductive health care providers who serve out of state residents. In light of the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v Wade, it is especially important to ensure that Massachusetts providers can continue to provide reproductive health care services without concern that the laws of other states may be used to interfere with those services or sanction them for providing services that are lawful in the Commonwealth,” Baker said.Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said: “We are proud of the Commonwealth’s history of ensuring access to reproductive health care, and will continue to do so, despite today’s ruling from the Supreme Court.”Michigan Gov. Whitmer says ruling means her state's 1931 law banning abortion takes effect Michigan's Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement Friday it was a "sad day for America" and that her state's "antiquated" 1931 law banning abortion without exceptions for rape or incest will take effect. The law also criminalizes doctors and nurses who provide reproductive care, she said. "For now, a Michigan court has put a temporary hold on the law, but that decision is not final and has already been challenged. The 1931 law would punish women and strip away their right to make decisions about their own bodies," Whitmer said. "I want every Michigander to know that I am more determined than ever to protect access to safe, legal abortion."She said she filed a lawsuit in April to urge her state's Supreme Court to determine whether the Michigan Constitution protects the right to an abortion. "We need to clarify that under Michigan law, access to abortion is not only legal, but constitutionally protected," she said. Barack Obama calls Roe v. Wade reversal an attack on millionsTat Bellamy-Walker1h ago / 3:33 PM UTCFormer President Barack Obama said the court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade targets the freedom of millions of Americans in the U.S. "Today, the Supreme Court not only reversed nearly 50 years of precedent, it relegated the most intensely personal decision someone can make to the whims of politicians and ideologues—attacking the essential freedoms of millions of Americans," he wrote in a tweet. He noted that states across the country have already passed bills restricting abortion rights, and pointed people who want to fight against these restrictions toward Planned Parenthood and the United State of Women.In a statement, former first lady Michelle Obama said she was "heartbroken for people around this country who just lost the fundamental right to make informed decisions about their own bodies."Recent NBC News poll showed a majority of people in U.S. didn't want Roe v. Wade overturnedA majority of people in the U.S. — 63 percent — said in a recent NBC News poll in May that they didn't believe Roe v. Wade should be overturned, compared to 30% of people who wanted the abortion rights ruling to be reversed.Additionally, a combined 60% of Americans across the country said abortion should be either always legal (37%) or legal most of the time (23%) — the highest share believing it should be legal on this question, which dates back to 2003. By party, 84 percent of Democrats and 63 percent of Independents want abortion to be legal, versus just 33 percent of Republicans. The poll was conducted after the draft opinion of Alito's Roe opinion leaked.NAACP calls decision 'egregious assault on basic human rights'NAACP General Counsel Janette McCarthy Wallace said in a statement Friday the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade as "marks a significant regression of our country.""As a legal professional, I am horrified by this decision. As a Black woman, I am outraged to my core," Wallace said. "There is no denying the fact that this is a direct attack on all women, and Black women stand to be disproportionately impacted by the court's egregious assault on basic human rights. We must all stand up to have our voices heard in order to protect our nation from the further degradation of civil rights protections we have worked so hard to secure."Separately, Portia White, the NAACP vice president of policy and legislative affairs, said: "This Supreme Court is turning back the clock to a dangerous era where basic constitutional rights only exist for a select few. They've stripped away our right to vote, and now women have lost their right to their own body. What’s next?"White added: "We cannot allow our future to rest in the hands of those determined to crush every bit of it. We need to fight back."Biden to address Supreme Court ruling in remarks at 12:30 p.m. ETPresident Joe Biden will address the Supreme Court's ruling in remarks at approximately 12:30 p.m. ET, according to the White House.The guidance said that Biden will deliver his response in the Cross Hall.Durbin announces Judiciary hearing to explore "grim reality of a post-Roe America"Christopher Cicchiello2h ago / 3:20 PM UTCSenate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing next month to "explore the grim reality of a post-Roe America."Durbin, who chairs the committee, made the announcement in a series of tweets in which he vowed to keep "fighting to enshrine into law a woman’s right to make her own reproductive choices.” "The Court’s decision to erase the right to an abortion will not only lead to the denial of critical health care services, but also criminal consequences for women & health care providers in states eager to embrace draconian restrictions," Durbin wrote. "We cannot let our children inherit a nation that is less free and more dangerous than the one their parents grew up in."He also urged voters to elect "pro-choice Democrats who will write abortion protections into law" in the midterm elections.LGBTQ rights could be at risk post-Roe, advocates warned before rulingJulie Moreau2h ago / 3:18 PM UTCThe leaked initial draft of the Supreme Court opinion overturning Roe v. Wade had advocates worried about what the precedent’s reversal could mean for the LGBTQ community’s recently gained rights. Cathryn Oakley, an attorney with the Human Rights Campaign, the country’s largest LGBTQ rights group, stressed that the high court’s decision would have a direct impact on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. “The LGBTQ community relies on reproductive health care. LGBTQ people seek and receive abortions, they seek and receive and use contraception,” she said. The willingness of the court to overturn precedent could, some advocates fear, signal that other federally protected rights of minorities may be in jeopardy, such as same-sex marriage, which became the law of the land with the Obergefell v. Hodges case. Read more about what LGBTQ rights advocates warned before Friday's ruling.Virginia Gov. Youngkin says Supreme Court ruling 'rightfully returned power to the people'Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade "has rightfully returned power to the people" and the elected officials of each state. "I’m proud to be a pro-life Governor and plan to take every action I can to protect life," he said in a statement Friday. "The truth is, Virginians want fewer abortions, not more abortions. We can build a bipartisan consensus on protecting the life of unborn children, especially when they begin to feel pain in the womb, and importantly supporting mothers and families who choose life."Youngkin, a Republican, said he has called on several lawmakers, including state Sens. Siobhan Dunnavant and Steve Newman, to help "find areas where we can agree and chart the most successful path forward."The Virginia Assembly is controlled by Republicans and the Senate has a narrow 19-21 Democratic majority. Manchin says he's 'alarmed,' had trusted Gorsuch and Kavanaugh when they said Roe was settled precedentSen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said in a statement that he is "deeply disappointed" by the Supreme Court's decision and "alarmed" that the two Trump-appointed justices that he voted to confirm supported it."I trusted Justice Gorsuch and Justice Kavanaugh when they testified under oath that they also believed Roe v. Wade was settled legal precedent and I am alarmed they chose to reject the stability the ruling has provided for two generations of Americans," he said.Manchin said he was raised "pro-life" as a Catholic and still maintains that view. "But I have come to accept that my definition of pro-life may not be someone else’s definition of pro-life. I believe that exceptions should be made in instances of rape, incest and when the life of the mother is in jeopardy," he said. Manchin said that he supports legislation that would codify Roe v. Wade into federal law, saying, "I am hopeful Democrats and Republicans will come together to put forward a piece of legislation that would do just that."Thomas calls on court to reconsider contraception, same-sex marriage casesJustice Clarence Thomas, concurring with the majority ruling, explicitly called on the Supreme Court to overrule the rulings in Griswold v. Connecticut, which protects the right to contraception; Lawrence v. Texas, the right to same-sex intimacy; and Obergefell v. Hodges, the right to same-sex marriage.“As I have previously explained, 'substantive due process' is an oxymoron that 'lack[s] any basis in the Constitution,'” he wrote.Chief Justice Roberts warns Dobbs ruling goes too farChief Justice John Roberts voted with the other conservative justices to uphold the Mississippi law in today's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling, but urged against going further.“Surely we should adhere closely to principles of judicial restraint here, where the broader path the Court chooses entails repudiating a constitutional right we have not only previously recognized, but also expressly reaffirmed applying the doctrine of stare decisis,” he wrote.ACLU slams court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade as "shameful"Tat Bellamy-Walker2h | Civil Rights Activism |
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! The White House slammed Florida’s parental rights bill as it went into effect Friday, calling the measure "discrimination" and part of a "disturbing and dangerous" trend across the nation of Republican politicians "cynically targeting LGBTQI+" individuals to "score political points." Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law in March that would ban teachers from giving classroom instruction on "sexual orientation" or "gender identity" in kindergarten through third grade.DEMOCRATS CLAIM FLORIDA IS PUSHING 'DON'T SAY GAY' BILL. HERE'S WHAT THE LEGISLATION ACTUALLY SAYSWhite House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre slammed the measure as it went into effect Friday saying some of Florida’s "most vulnerable students and families are more fearful and less free." "As the state’s shameful ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law takes effect, state officials who claim to champion liberty are limiting the freedom of their fellow Americans simply to be themselves," she said. "Already, there have been reports that ‘Safe Space’ stickers are being taken down from classrooms. Teachers are being instructed not to wear rainbow clothing. LGBTQI+ teachers are being told to take down family photos of their husbands and wives—cherished family photos like the ones on my own desk."Jean-Pierre said this is "not an issue of ‘parents’ rights.’" U.S. press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre holds the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., June 16, 2022. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein (REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein)"This is discrimination, plain and simple," she said. "It’s part of a disturbing and dangerous nationwide trend of right-wing politicians cynically targeting LGBTQI+ students, educators, and individuals to score political points."Jean-Pierre also said the measure "encourages bullying and threatens students’ mental health, physical safety, and well-being." "It censors dedicated teachers and educators who want to do the right thing and support their students," she said. "And it must stop." Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden has "been very clear that every student deserves to feel safe and welcome in the classroom." U.S. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida, U.S. February 24, 2022. (Reuters)She announced that the Department of Education plans to monitor the law, and said that "any student or parent who believes they are experiencing discrimination is encouraged to file a complaint with the Department’s Office for Civil Rights." "Our Administration will continue to fight for dignity and opportunity for every student and family—in Florida and around the country," she said.The initial bill was dubbed the "Don’t Say Gay" bill by Democrats who falsely claim it bans any discussion pertaining to being gay in the state's schools. TAMPA, FL - MARCH 26: Revelers celebrate on 7th Avenue during the Tampa Pride Parade in the Ybor City neighborhood on March 26, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Octavio Jones/Getty Images) (Octavio Jones/Getty Images)The law does prohibit classroom instruction on "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" with children in third grade or younger, "or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards."The law does not ban the word "gay" in school settings, and it does not ban casual discussions of topics relating to sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom, and does not require schools to notify parents if their child comes out as gay or transgender.It also does not require schools to notify parents of information regarding the student's mental, emotional, or physical well-being "if a reasonably prudent person would believe that disclosure would result in abuse, abandonment, or neglect."BIDEN: FLORIDA BILL ADDRESSING SEX, GENDER CONVERSATIONS IN CLASSROOMS IS 'HATEFUL ATTACK' ON GAY CHILDRENThe law does require school districts to adopt procedures that "reinforce the fundamental right of parents to make decisions regarding the upbringing and control of their children in a specified manner" and prohibit classroom instruction, not casual discussion, on "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" with children in third grade or younger, "or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards." Members and supporters of the LGBTQ community attend the "Say Gay Anyway" rally in Miami Beach, Florida on March 13, 2022. (CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)The law also does require school districts to notify a student’s parent if there is a change "in the student's services or monitoring related to the student's mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being and the school's ability to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for the student," and prohibits schools from "encouraging a student to withhold" such information from a parent.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe law also does require school districts to notify parents of each health care service offered at their student's school and the option to withhold consent or decline any specific service, require that parents be allowed to access their child’s educational or health records kept by the school, and require the school to get parental permission before administering a well-being questionnaire or health screening to students in kindergarten through third grade.The law also requires schools to respond to a parent's concerns within seven days of being notified of those concerns, and the school must resolve those concerns within 30 days. If the issue is not resolved, parents can then sue the school district or request the state Commissioner of Education to appoint a special magistrate to mediate a solution, which the school district must pay for. Brooke Singman is a Fox News Digital politics reporter. You can reach her at Brooke.Singman@Fox.com or @BrookeSingman on Twitter. | Civil Rights Activism |
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced in a federal court Thursday to 21 years in prison for violating George Floyd's civil rights.Chauvin previously pleaded guilty to the civil rights violation during Floyd's May 25, 2020 arrest when the former officer pressed his knee on the back of Floyd's neck for several minutes. The sentence will run concurrently with his state sentence of 22.5 years after he was convicted for second and third-degree murder, as well as second-degree manslaughter.The defense asked for 20 years, saying Chauvin accepts responsibility for what he did. Chauvin told Floyd's family he "wishes all the best" for Floyd's children during his brief remarks. He did not offer an apology. "My brother was murdered in broad daylight with a knee to his neck for nine minutes," Philonese Floyd, George Floyd's brother, told the judge. The (Floyd) family and I have been given a life sentence, we will never get George back."POLICE PULLING BACK ON TRAFFIC STOPS IMPAIRS AUTHORITIES' ABILITY TO LIMIT GUN VIOLENCE': EXPERTS Derek Chauvin was sentenced Thursday to 21 years in federal prison for the death of George Floyd. (AP)In a court impact statement, Chauvin's mother said it wasn't her son's intent to kill Floyd.Without the federal plea agreement, Chauvin would have faced a life sentence. Under Minnesota law, Chauvin will have to serve two-thirds of his sentence. He has appealed the conviction. In entering his federal plea, Chauvin for the first time admitted that he kept his knee on Floyd’s neck — even as the Black man pleaded, "I can't breathe," and then became unresponsive — resulting in Floyd’s death. Chauvin, who is white, admitted he willfully deprived Floyd of his right to be free from unreasonable seizure, including unreasonable force by a police officer, during the May 2020 arrest. FILE - This combination of photos provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, shows from left, former Minneapolis police officers Derek Chauvin, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao. (Hennepin County Sheriff's Office via AP File)CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThree other former Minneapolis police officers — Tou Thao, J. Alexander Keung and Thomas Lane — were convicted in February of federal civil rights charges in Floyd's killing. Magnuson has not set sentencing dates for them.Lane is also due to be sentenced Sept. 21 after pleading guilty in state court to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. Thao and Kueng turned down plea deals and are due to be tried in state court Oct. 24 on aiding and abetting charges.The Associated Press contributed to this report. | Civil Rights Activism |
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! I have been inside a Chinese prison, and it is grim to say the least. The imprisonment of 90-year-old Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen would be a death sentence. In May 2022, Hong Kong authorities arrested Cardinal Zen on spurious charges, accusing him and four others of violating China’s national security by "colluding with foreign forces." Despite being released on bail, his situation remains precarious. Cardinal Zen’s arrest has sparked an international outcry and represents a new low for the Hong Kong and Chinese governments. As a commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and a longtime friend to the cardinal, whom I and many others admire, I am deeply concerned about his safety and well-being. Cardinal Joseph Zen in Hong Kong, 2018. (Paul Yeung/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Hong Kong was once a free and prosperous international financial center where a "high degree of autonomy" and civil liberties were guaranteed by the Sino-British Joint Declaration – a treaty signed between the United Kingdom and China in 1984 – and Hong Kong’s Basic Law. ARRESTED CARDINAL REPEATEDLY WARNED HOLY SEE OF CHINESE PERSECUTION, CONDEMNED VATICAN'S SECRETARY OF STATEToday, the Chinese government has broken its promises and is eviscerating the rule of law and civil liberties in Hong Kong. Religious freedom as a fundamental right will inevitably suffer as well. In fact, we are witnessing before our eyes this free city devolving into an increasingly repressive society where no one resisting government tyranny is safe, including religious leaders and communities. Cardinal Joseph Zen, one of Asia's highest-ranking Catholic clerics, attends Mass at the Holy Cross Church in Hong Kong on May 24, 2022. (Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images)For example, in December 2020, Hong Kong authorities targeted the Good Neighbor North District Church and its pastor Roy Chan, in apparent political retribution against their democracy and social activism. The high-profile arrest of a prominent Hong Kong religious figure such as Cardinal Zen signals a turn for the worse and causes alarm about the future of religious freedom in Hong Kong.CLICK HERE TO GET THE OPINION NEWSLETTERThe use of broad and vague provisions of Hong Hong’s national security law against Cardinal Zen is particularly troubling. Authorities could use the law to arbitrarily persecute many more religious individuals and organizations who participated in democracy protests in Hong Kong. Religious people in Hong Kong will be forced to submit to the will of the government in violation of their conscience or belief, or else face dire consequences for refusing to do so. Cardinal Zen is not only a democracy activist in Hong Kong, but he has also been a tireless and outspoken advocate for religious freedom and human rights in China. He is a hero and role model for many. Cardinal Joseph Zen with Buddhist Master Sik Kok Kwong at a Chinese New Year gathering on March 12, 2007. (K.Y. Cheng/South China Morning Post via Getty Images) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPWhen I served as a member of the U.S. Congress, I met with Cardinal Zen several times and personally witnessed his commitment to religious freedom first-hand. As he faces great adversity now, it is imperative that we speak out on his behalf, not only to ensure the charges against him are dropped, but in support of religious freedom for all in Hong Kong and China. I urge the U.S. government to stand up for religious freedom and ensure Cardinal Zen will not be forgotten.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM FRANK WOLF Frank Wolf, a former member of Congress from Virginia, is a commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). | Civil Rights Activism |
FILE - Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin addresses the court as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides over Chauvin's sentencing at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis June 25, 2021. A federal judge sentenced the former officer to to 21 years on Thursday, July 7, 2022, for federal civil rights violations in the killing of George Floyd during the sentencing in St. Paul, Minn. (Court TV via AP, Pool, File)(Uncredited / ASSOCIATED PRESS)ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday sentenced Derek Chauvin to 21 years in prison for violating George Floyd’s civil rights, telling the former Minneapolis police officer that what he did was “simply wrong” and “offensive.”U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson sharply criticized Chauvin for his actions on May 25, 2020, when the white officer pinned Floyd to the pavement outside a Minneapolis corner store for more than 9 minutes as the Black man lay dying. Floyd’s killing sparked protests worldwide in a reckoning over police brutality and racism.“I really don’t know why you did what you did,” Magnuson said. “To put your knee on a person’s neck until they expired is simply wrong. … Your conduct is wrong and it is offensive.”Magnuson, who earlier this year presided over the federal trial and convictions of three other officers at the scene, blamed Chauvin alone for what happened. Chauvin was by far the senior officer present, and rebuffed questions from one of the others about whether Floyd should be turned on his side.“You absolutely destroyed the lives of three young officers by taking command of the scene,” Magnuson said.Even so, Magnuson’s sentence was at the low end of the 20 to 25 years called for in a plea agreement in which Chauvin will serve the federal sentence at the same time he serves his 22 1/2-year sentence on state charges of murder and manslaughter.Because of differences in parole eligibility in the state and federal systems, it means that Chauvin will serve slightly more time behind bars than he would have on the state sentence alone. He will also do his time in the federal system, where he may be safer and may be held under fewer restrictions than in the state system.Chauvin attorney Eric Nelson had asked for 20 years, arguing that Chauvin was remorseful and would make that clear to the court. But Chauvin, in brief remarks, made no direct apology or expression of remorse to Floyd’s family.Instead, he told the family that he wishes Floyd’s children “all the best in their life” and that they have “excellent guidance in becoming good adults.”In entering his federal plea last year, Chauvin for the first time admitted that he kept his knee on Floyd’s neck — even as the Black man pleaded, “I can’t breathe,” and then became unresponsive — killing Floyd. Chauvin admitted he willfully deprived Floyd of his right to be free from unreasonable seizure, including unreasonable force by a police officer.Magnuson has not set sentencing dates for the three other officers who were on the scene — Tou Thao, J. Alexander Keung and Thomas Lane — who were convicted in February of federal civil rights charges.Lane is also due to be sentenced Sept. 21 after pleading guilty in state court to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. Thao and Kueng turned down plea deals and are due to be tried in state court Oct. 24 on aiding and abetting charges.Get the breaking newsGet email alerts on breaking news stories as soon as they happen.By signing up you agree to our privacy policyMost Popular on DallasNews.com123456 | Civil Rights Activism |
A Progress Pride flag and rainbow flags are seen at the Stonewall National Monument, the first US national monument dedicated to LGBTQ history and rights, marking the birthplace of the modern lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer civil rights movement, on June 1, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Angela Weiss/AFP) A group of House Democrats on Tuesday announced they would move to codify federal protections for transgender people. The proposal, dubbed the “Transgender Bill of Rights,” would codify the Supreme Court’s 2020 Bostock v. Clayton County decision that protects employees against discrimination for being gay or transgender. The proposal would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to explicitly include protections for gender identity and sex characteristics, expand access to gender-affirming care and ban conversion therapy. It would also require the attorney general to designate a liaison dedicated to overseeing enforcement of civil rights for transgender people and invest in community services to prevent anti-transgender violence. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and co-chair of the Transgender Equality Task Force, said in a statement that the resolution would ensure transgender people can lead “full, happy lives.” “As we witness Republicans and an extremist Supreme Court attack and roll back the fundamental rights of trans people across our country, and as state legislatures across the country target our trans community with hateful, bigoted and transphobic attacks, we are standing up and saying enough is enough,” Jayapal said. Jayapal introduced the proposal alongside Reps. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), Marie Newman (D-Ill.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.). The bill has 84 other co-sponsors. The bill’s proponents cited Friday’s Supreme Court decision overturning the constitutional right to an abortion. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in a concurring opinion that the court should also consider overturning some of its other precedents decided under the same substantive due process protections at the heart of Friday’s decision, like rights to same-sex marriage and contraception. The Bostock decision was not mentioned in Thomas’s concurring opinion and involved a different legal question. But Thomas’s opinion has caught the eye of many Democrats who believe the Supreme Court’s conservative majority is poised to roll back rights extended to LGBTQ people in past cases. Democrats supporting the bill also pointed to research from the Human Rights Campaign, the country’s largest LGBTQ advocacy group, showing state legislatures have proposed more than 300 anti-LGBTQ bills in the past year. The bill is supported by more than 30 organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign, the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Education Association. “While some politicians are targeting our community with discriminatory legislation, we are grateful that the members House of Representatives are sending this message to us — and especially to transgender youth — that they affirm our lives and value the contributions we make to our country,” said Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, the National Center for Transgender Equality’s executive director. “We deserve to live as who we are without sacrificing our safety, access to health care or enduring violence and discrimination.” | Civil Rights Activism |
A Minnesota city has agreed to pay $3.25 million to the family of Daunte Wright, a Black man who was killed by a white police officer who said she mistook her gun for a Taser, according to attorneys representing Wright's family.The settlement with Brooklyn Center is believed to be the third-largest civil rights wrongful death settlement of its kind in the state, the attorneys said in a statement."This settlement reflects historic financial accountability, particularly when the small size and limited resources of Brooklyn Center are considered," the Tuesday statement said.The settlement will not be finalized "until agreement is also reached on substantial and meaningful non-monetary relief," according to the attorneys.DAUNTE WRIGHT'S MOTHER DETAINED: Katie Wright detained after recording traffic stop in city where son was killedThat relief may include changes in police training and policies related to officer intervention, implicit bias, weapons confusion, de-escalation and mental health crises, they said. The University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis would provide cultural proficiency and implicit bias training for the department pro bono, the statement added.The family's attorneys also expect to see a permanent memorial to Wright at the site of the existing memorial, which remains after Wright's family in March opposed plans to take it down.Those plans were also briefly addressed in a statement provided to USA TODAY by lawyer Jason M. Hiveley on behalf of the city. It "agreed to non-monetary terms related to policies, procedures, training, the public safety resolution, and the Daunte Wright memorial," according to the statement."The City and Insurance Trust believe the early resolution of this matter will permit the family to begin the healing process and will give the City an opportunity to rebuild the relationship between its Police Department and the community," the statement says.Daunte Wright, 20, was killed during an April 2021 traffic stop after Brooklyn Center officers pulled him over for having expired license tags and an air freshener hanging from his rearview mirror. Former Brooklyn Center officer Kim Potter was sentenced this year to two years in prison after she fatally shot Wright while yelling "Taser." Potter said she confused her handgun for her Taser.'IT WILL HURT A LOT OF PEOPLE': Daunte Wright's family balks at plan to take down memorial"There is not true justice for the Wrights because Daunte is never coming home," family attorney Jeff Storms said in a statement. "The financial component of this settlement cannot come close to compensating the family for their loss, yet the comparative cost for and commitment by the city reflects a commitment to accountability for this small community."Family attorney Antonio M. Romanucci said the family hopes the settlement will bring about meaningful chance to policing, policies and training in Wright's name."Nothing can bring him back, but the family hopes his legacy is a positive one and prevents any other family from enduring the type of grief they will live with for the rest of their lives," Romanucci said in a statement.Contact News Now Reporter Christine Fernando at cfernando@usatoday.com or follow her on Twitter at @christinetfern.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Daunte Wright's family reaches $3.25M settlement with Minnesota city | Civil Rights Activism |
NEW YORK -- On the eve of Juneteenth, the Tribeca Festival came to a close with the Rev. Al Sharpton documentary “Loudmouth” in a premiere that united on stage Sharpton and Spike Lee — two towering New York figures who have each been vilified and celebrated for careers championing racial justice. The event held Saturday at the Borough of Manhattan Community College celebrated Sharpton with the kind of big-screen portrait that has been commonplace for an older generation of civil rights leaders, but had, until “Loudmouth,” eluded the 67-year-old activist. “Loudmouth” contextualizes Sharpton's legacy as an extension of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rep. John Lewis and others, while at the same time chronicling his unique longevity despite plenty of naysayers along the way. “Shoot your best shot," Sharpton said in a Q&A after the film. "I'm still here.” Lee, a longtime friend who cast Sharpton in a small role in 1992's “Malcolm X," cheered Sharpton for being there “from the get-go, fighting the good fight.” “Everybody takes blows but you got up and keep stepping,” said Lee, who joined Sharpton and John Legend, executive producer of the film, on stage. “And you’re still doing it today.” “Loudmouth,” which is seeking distribution at Tribeca, was introduced by Tribeca co-founder Robert De Niro. He drew a firm distinction between Sharpton and other “loudmouths” on today's airwaves and at the Jan. 6 hearings in Washington. “How interesting that the committee and the Rev are on the same page exposing the lies and the liars who threaten our democracy," said De Niro. "They want to take away our right to vote and deny us social justice. While Washington deals with the lies and the big lie, tonight you're in the company of patriot who challenges us to get to the truth.” “Loudmouth,” directed by Josh Alexander, is framed around a sit-down interview with Sharpton, who chronicles his story as a constant fight to keep social justice in the headlines. “Nobody calls me to a keep a secret,” Sharpton said at the memorial service for George Floyd. To Sharpton, that was his purpose — “the blow-up man," he once called himself — to tirelessly agitate and stir up enough media attention and to spotlight injustice. Of course, that approach earned Sharpton plenty of detractors — almost all of whom are white — who have chided him as racial opportunist. That was especially after his involvement in the 1987 case of Tawana Brawley, whose allegation that she had been raped and kidnapped by a group of Dutchess County, New York, men was later found to have been fabricated by a special state grand jury. Sharpton in the film argues that his mission in that case and others was always to give someone their day in court. Ahead of the film, Alexander said Sharpton's one request was to “get the context right.” And in an litany of other instances, Sharpton has been there to advocate, consult and lend support for Black people. Family members of Floyd, Eric Garner and others were in the audience Saturday.“It just makes you realize that anybody who’s making noise for justice, especially for an oppressed minority, is always going to be treated as persona non grata in society,” Legend said. “They’re always going to be unpopular to an extent because they’re fighting to disturb a status quo that protects a lot of people.”When Legend approached Sharpton about making the documentary, he and producers surprised Sharpton with the idea of it being directed by Alexander, a white Jewish filmmaker from California. They argued that the film would be more objective from the perspective of a white filmmaker, Sharpton said. “I said: ‘I’ll tell you what. If it works, I’ll be there to take a bow. If it don’t, I’ll be picketing you outside,'" Sharpton said. Legend — who Sharpton praised as a pop star and “crossover artist” who was bold in affiliating himself with a figure seen by some as “risque” — said he had been discouraged by what he saw as a backlash to the reckoning that followed Floyd's death and recent battles over school textbooks. But Legend said he found inspiration watching Sharpton in “Loudmouth.” “Every time we have progress, there’s a backlash, and the backlash is: ‘Oh, we’ve got to control this narrative,’” said Legend. “Everybody knows how important narrative is and how important who’s telling the story and what perspectives are being represented.” Lee, who twice mentioned being traumatized by an early school field trip to see “Gone With the Wind,” said “Loudmouth” should be shown in schools. As a chronicle from the front lines of racial tensions in New York, Lee said it was a valuable reminder. “You have to show that racism doesn’t really have a particular ZIP code,” said Lee, who wore a “1619” hat. “This is not Shangri-La. There’s a whole lot of messed up here that continues today.”Sharpton often returned to the question of how much has changed in the last half century. Sharpton recently gave eulogies for several victims in Buffalo of last month’s racist mass shooting that killed 10 people in a supermarket. Still, he said he also sees great progress, and more Black people in power than ever before. “We're not out of the woods yet,” Sharpton said. “But we've done enough paths in the woods to believe we can get out.” | Civil Rights Activism |
The White House has released a list of 17 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients headlined by civil rights leaders, politicians, and cultural icons, such as Apple founder Steve Jobs and soccer star Megan Rapinoe. President Joe Biden released the list on Friday. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is considered the nation's highest civilian honor, given to individuals with noteworthy public accomplishments that range from government service and political activism to business, sports, and entertainment. OPINION: MEGAN RAPINOE SAYS SPORTS COME SECOND TO SAVING TRANSGENDER LIVES "These seventeen Americans demonstrate the power of possibilities and embody the soul of the nation — hard work, perseverance, and faith," reads the news release announcing the recipients. "They have overcome significant obstacles to achieve impressive accomplishments in the arts and sciences, dedicated their lives to advocating for the most vulnerable among us, and acted with bravery to drive change in their communities — and across the world — while blazing trails for generations to come." Below is the list of recipients, with text describing each as provided by the White House. Simone Biles Simone Biles is the most decorated American gymnast in history, with a combined total of 32 Olympic and World Championship medals. Biles is also a prominent advocate for athletes' mental health and safety, children in the foster care system, and victims of sexual assault. Sister Simone Campbell Sister Simone Campbell is a member of the Sisters of Social Service and former Executive Director of NETWORK, a Catholic social justice organization. She is also a prominent advocate for immigration reform and healthcare policy. Julieta Garcia Dr. Julieta García is the former president of The University of Texas at Brownsville, where she was named one of Time magazine's best college presidents. Dr. García was the first Hispanic woman to serve as a college president and dedicated her career to serving students from the Southwest Border region. Gabrielle Giffords Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was the youngest woman ever elected to the Arizona State Senate, serving first in the Arizona legislature and later in the U.S. Congress. A survivor of gun violence, she co-founded Giffords, a nonprofit organization dedicated to gun violence prevention. Fred Gray Fred Gray was one of the first black members of the Alabama State legislature since Reconstruction. As an attorney, he represented Rosa Parks, the NAACP, and Martin Luther King, who called him "the chief counsel for the protest movement." Steve Jobs (posthumous) Steve Jobs (d. 2011) was the co-founder, chief executive, and chair of Apple, Inc., CEO of Pixar and held a leading role at the Walt Disney Company. His vision, imagination and creativity led to inventions that have, and continue to, change the way the world communicates, as well as transforming the computer, music, film and wireless industries. Father Alexander Karloutsos Father Alexander Karloutsos is the former Vicar General of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. After over 50 years as a priest, providing counsel to several U.S. presidents, he was named by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew as a Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Khizr Khan Khizr Khan is a Gold Star father and founder of the Constitution Literacy and National Unity Center. He is a prominent advocate for the rule of law and religious freedom and served on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom under President Biden. Sandra Lindsay Sandra Lindsay is a New York critical care nurse who served on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic response. She was the first American to receive a COVID-19 vaccine outside of clinical trials and is a prominent advocate for vaccines and mental health for health care workers. John McCain (posthumous) John McCain (d. 2018) was a public servant who was awarded a Purple Heart with one gold star for his service in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam. He also served the people of Arizona for decades in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate and was the Republican nominee for president in 2008. Diane Nash Diane Nash is a founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee who organized some of the most important civil rights campaigns of the 20th century. Nash worked closely with Martin Luther King, who described her as the "driving spirit in the nonviolent assault on segregation at lunch counters." Megan Rapinoe Megan Rapinoe is an Olympic gold medalist and two-time Women's World Cup champion. She also captains OL Reign in the National Women's Soccer League. She is a prominent advocate for gender pay equality, racial justice, and LGBTQI+ rights. Alan Simpson Alan Simpson served as a U.S. Senator from Wyoming for 18 years. During his public service, he has been a prominent advocate on issues including campaign finance reform, responsible governance, and marriage equality. Richard Trumka (posthumous) Richard Trumka (d. 2021) was president of the 12.5-million-member AFL-CIO for more than a decade, president of the United Mine Workers, and secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO. Throughout his career, he was an outspoken advocate for social and economic justice. Wilma Vaught Brigadier General Wilma Vaught is one of the most decorated women in the history of the U.S. military, repeatedly breaking gender barriers as she rose through the ranks. When she retired in 1985, she was one of only seven women generals in the Armed Forces. Denzel Washington Denzel Washington is an actor, director, and producer who has won two Academy Awards, a Tony Award, two Golden Globes, and the 2016 Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award. He has also served as National Spokesman for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America for over 25 years. Raul Yzaguirre Raúl Yzaguirre is a civil rights advocate who served as CEO and president of National Council of La Raza for thirty years. He also served as U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic under President Barack Obama. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Biden received the Presidential Medal of Freedom himself from President Barack Obama toward the end of his second term as vice president. The awards will be presented during a ceremony at the White House on July 7. | Civil Rights Activism |
Women shop at a street in Tehran, Iran, November 29, 2021. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSummaryActivists urge defiance on "National Day of Hijab and Chastity"Iran's hardliners step up efforts to enforce Islamic dress codeCritics say harsh measures may lead to further unrestDUBAI, July 12 (Reuters) - Iranian rights activists have urged women to publicly remove their veils on "National Day of Hijab and Chastity" on Tuesday, risking arrest for defying the Islamic dress code as the country's hardline rulers crack down on "immoral behaviour".Under Iran's Islamic Sharia law, imposed after the 1979 revolution, women are obliged to cover their hair and wear long, loose-fitting clothes to disguise their figures. Violators face public rebuke, fines or arrest.But decades after the revolution, clerical rulers still struggle to enforce the law, with many women of all ages and backgrounds wearing tight-fitting, thigh-length coats and brightly coloured scarves pushed back to expose plenty of hair.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comCritics and activists see the establishment's stepped-up efforts to enforce hijab compliance as part of a wider clamp-down on dissent amid deepening resentment over economic hardship at home and growing Western pressure on Iran over its disputed nuclear programme.As the state holds ceremonies across the country to celebrate the "National Day of Hijab and Chastity", rights activists have criticised the move and called on women to remove the veil."The National Day of Hijab and Chastity is only an excuse to target women and launch a new wave of repression against Iranian people and in particular women," dozens of prominent women's rights activists said in a joint statement on Monday.In a display of civil disobedience, the hashtag #No2Hijab has been widely distributed on social media for days by Iranians outside and inside the country.Videos of women removing their hijab as they walk in the streets or resisting the morality police have flooded social media. Reuters could not verify the authenticity of the videos."I should have the right to decide what I want to wear and not be imprisoned because of my choice. #No2Hijab," tweeted a female user.NO VEIL TO REMOVESome women who voluntarily wear a veil and men have joined the campaign too."I don't have a veil to remove. But I will come to the street to support and defend the women and girls of my land. #No2Hijab," tweeted @mashmolak.The New York-based International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran (ICHRI) said on Monday there were "serious concerns over more potential violence and detentions on July 12".Iran's semi-official Fars news agency said several people were arrested on Monday.The #No2Hijab campaign overlapped with months of protests by teachers, retirees, workers and government employees over unpaid wages, low pensions and sky-rocketing food prices that have hurt the establishment's legitimacy with protesters calling for political change."This is like pouring fuel on fire. People are already angry because of high inflation and rising prices. They are very frustrated," said a former Iranian government official. "Coercion has never worked."Waves of the hijab protests have hit the clerical establishment in the past years. In 2014, rights activist Masih Alinejad started a Facebook campaign "My Stealthy Freedom", where she shared pictures of unveiled Iranian women sent to her.It was followed by a campaign in 2017 for women to wear white headscarves on Wednesdays and the hijab protests in 2018 when women took to the streets holding their veils aloft. Dozens of women have been jailed in Iran for their activism against forced veiling, according to rights groups."The establishment fears a revolution by women that has already started today," Alinejad told Reuters.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comWriting by Parisa Hafezi;
Editing by Michael Georgy and Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Civil Rights Activism |
MISSION, Kan. — What Karla Arango says started as a dorm-room sexual assault got even worse as word spread around campus. Her attacker’s fraternity brothers snubbed her, she says, whispering about her in the cafeteria, blocking her phone number and unfriending her on social media. Soon her grades were slipping.Arango’s experience in her first year at Northern Kentucky University highlights what experts see as deep-seated problems with Title IX, the 1972 federal civil rights law that prohibits sexual discrimination in education. It turns 50 this month.Heralded as a gamechanger for female college athletes, the law also is supposed to protect sexual assault and harassment accusers like Arango, giving them options like moving dormitories or even getting their attackers removed from the school.In practice, the law’s protections fall short, accusers and advocates say.Polarizing regulations finalized under former President Donald Trump have discouraged students from coming forward with abuse allegations. Those who do face a live hearing and cross-examination by a person of their alleged attacker’s choosing. The rules also narrowed the definition of sexual harassment and allowed colleges to ignore most cases arising off campus.President Joe Biden and other critics say the rules, finalized in 2020 by then-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, fail to adequately protect sexual assault victims, deter them from reporting misconduct and go too far in shielding the accused. Biden is expected to announce new rules as soon as this month.University of Oregon students and staff protest on the steps of Johnson Hall on the UO campus in Eugene, Ore., May 8, 2014, against sexual violence in the wake of allegations of rape brought against three UO basketball players by a fellow student. (Chris Pietsch/AP)In the meantime, many students have opted out entirely, never reporting the abuse. Or they’ve chosen to go an informal route, in which the accused might be asked not to take classes with the accuser, or to switch schools — often with no mark on their record.Arango ultimately decided not to pursue her case, and nothing happened to the other student.“I felt like my identity was beginning to form, and then it was completely stripped away,” said Arango, now 21 and heading into her senior year. “Everyone just saw me as this girl that was lying about being sexually assaulted. And I was spiraling really bad.”The Associated Press typically doesn’t identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted, but Arango allowed her name to be used. She serves on a caucus of survivors for End Rape on Campus, a national advocacy group.Sexual assault is commonplace on college campuses. Thirteen percent of college students overall and nearly 26% of undergraduate women reported nonconsensual sexual contact, according to a 2019 Association of American Universities survey of 181,752 students on 27 campuses. Rates were nearly as high for students who are transgender, nonbinary or otherwise gender nonconforming.Only about one-third of the female accusers reported what happened, according to the survey. Doing so often ends badly, according to Know Your IX, an advocacy group that has found students who report abuse often leave school, at least temporarily, and are threatened with defamation lawsuits.“The current process is not really working for anybody,” said Emma Grasso Levine, the manager of Know Your IX.At some universities, the Trump administration rules have been followed by a decrease in the number of complaints addressed by Title IX offices, according to records provided to The Associated Press.At the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 204 Title IX complaints were logged in 2019, but just 12 in 2021, records show. The number of cases that met the criteria for formal investigations fell from 27 to zero in the same period. No student has been found responsible for a Title IX violation at the university since 2020.At Michigan State University, the number of Title IX complaints dropped from more than 1,300 in 2019 to 56 in 2021. School officials say the drop is the result of narrowed definitions in the 2020 regulations. Complaints that fall outside the scope of the federal rules now go through a similar but separate disciplinary system, officials said.Arango’s nightmare began in August 2019, when she blacked out after playing a drinking game with her new fraternity friends.She recalls waking on an air mattress, a male student on top of her, although she had given no consent for the sex. She grabbed her belongings and headed to class, acting like nothing had happened.She kept quiet until that October, when she told a fraternity friend but swore him to secrecy.A few days later, she received an email from the Title IX office saying her name had been included in a sexual assault misconduct report. Her friend had shared her secret with the fraternity’s president, who was a resident adviser and required to report it.The accused student soon found out. His fraternity brothers shunned her as she weighed whether to pursue a Title IX investigation. People were calling her a liar, she said.Arango asked Title IX officials if the other student would be suspended or sanctioned if she filed a formal complaint. The coordinator told her the process was lengthy and that, if nothing else, she probably could get a no-contact order.She was skipping two classes to avoid the student and his friends, on track to receive the first two Cs of her life — grades that could threaten her scholarship. Then there was the isolation. “The thing is, no one is talking to me anymore,” she realized.She put the investigative process on hold. By the time she revisited it in the spring, the pandemic was slowing everything down. Then DeVos’ new regulations were announced.“Byzantine” is the word attorney Russell Kornblith uses to describe them. He is representing three Harvard University graduate students in a lawsuit alleging that the Ivy League school for years ignored complaints about sexual harassment by a renowned professor.He said pursuing the cases can be time intensive, distracting students from their classwork. Income disparities often play out, with affluent students able to pay for attorneys and others represented only by themselves. In some cases, accusers find themselves being questioned about their sexual past.A process that already had seemed rough became overwhelming to Arango.“I just saw the words ‘cross-examination’ and freaked out,” she recalled. “I was like, ‘I can’t. I can’t put myself through that.’”As more complaints fall outside its scope, experts have raised alarms that colleges are increasingly judging cases in parallel campus discipline systems that don’t guarantee accusers the same rights as Title IX.Justin Dillon, a Washington-based lawyer who has defended dozens of students accused of sexual misconduct, called the cross-examination process created under DeVos an “unparalleled success,” but criticized the overall handling of sexual misconduct cases under Title IX.“It’s just sort of created this kind of sexual police state on college campuses that I think goes far beyond making sure that men and women get equal access to education,” he said.Students are filing fewer sexual misconduct cases and the bulk of them — upward of 90% — are now being handled informally, said Brett Sokolow, president of the Association of Title IX Administrators. Sometimes the accused will simply agree to transfer so their new school won’t know anything happened, he said.For all the difficulties colleges have had adjudicating sex assault cases, Title IX at least holds them accountable for protecting the rights of accusers who can otherwise sue, said Maha Ibrahim, a staff attorney with Equal Rights Advocates, a nonprofit that represents survivors.“What if it wasn’t there? Then what?” she said. “You know, college campuses are just a free for all, a very dangerous place for women and for queer folks. And then what?”___Associated Press reporter Collin Binkley contributed from Boston. | Civil Rights Activism |
Written by Ellen Buchman, President, The Opportunity Agenda For the LGBTQ+ community across the United States, every year, the month of June feels like a timeless moment to celebrate the gains made by and for LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance. While for some that means taking to the streets, for others it’s about quietly and confidently displaying a rainbow flag or wearing a pride t-shirt. While for some members of the LGBTQ+ community the Pride month means taking to the streets, for others it’s about quietly and confidently displaying a rainbow flag or wearing a pride t-shirt. getty For me, it means honoring the past while working like hell for the future. I will never forget the first time I attended a NYC LGBTQ Pride parade. It was the early 1990s, and there was palpable, righteous joy and the most profound feeling of independence. The powerful storytelling. The spellbinding outfits. The colors, and the cat calls. All of it rooted in unvarnished purity and joy, and in the right to assembly in order to proclaim joyously: YES I AM, and YES I CAN. And while this month of June makes Pride seem so timeless, there is still so much in the balance and so much more to do. I remember in the 1990s how important visibility was toward cultural affirmation. It felt different then. After all, look how far we’ve come since that time! That’s why it’s important to keep celebrating - with unvarnished pride toward what’s possible - the progress while at the same time keep on keeping it on toward full liberation. I often think about one of those points of progress that I have personally benefited from - and it keeps me hope-filled even in the darkest of days. It’s that we’ve achieved marriage equality and the cultural and statutory affirmation of our relationships. Seven years ago, in 2015, marriage equality became the law of the land as a result of movement organizing in states and nationally, the U.S. Supreme Court. It was as though one of the pieces that had eluded the puzzle for so long had finally been plopped in its place. Lesbian and gay people could finally and legitimately, under the law, express love through the institution of marriage.
But as important a break-through that puzzle piece represented, and even with the affirmation of my own marriage, I know that there are still missing pieces to achieve full equality and liberation and we must keep hope and pride alive. It’s full protection under the law from non discrimination in the work place. Or the certainty that trans folks are safe in their homes and on the streets. We must continue to strive for these and other aspirations just as we did for marriage equality. If anything, the marriage equality accomplishment should stand as a reminder that there is hope and we must stay the course, especially now, during this time of great polarization. Further, we must never box ourselves in with a narrow focus on solely the incremental milestones toward progress. Sometimes I think that we have been socialized to believe that we can only ask for only so much and that these wins along the way are enough, that we’re not deserving of more. But they’re not, and we are. We need to replace this with a bigger aspiration - that we can demand more, and that we must not settle for anything less than full equality and liberation for all people. I think about how we must always remember and celebrate — in June’s Pride month and every month — the lessons from the queer and trans people of color who stood up in the 1969 Stonewall uprising to say NO to prolific police brutality and surveillance of gay people and YES to our humanity as not only queer people, but people. The essence of that protest sparked a movement – a movement that begot intersectionality in its approach long before that word even came about, recognizing that no one can be free and safe until all are free and safe. More recent examples of this were the Pride parades in 2020 that were changed to focus on police brutality and Black Lives Matter in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd. And this year in particular I have also been thinking a lot about the fragility of the gains we have made and the lives lost. And I’ve tried to deploy that same YES I CAN strategy of bold pronouncement even in the face of what feels like the worst of polarizing times in our history. But that’s when I am reminded of the stamina of people like Harvey Milk, who was assassinated because of his vision for full liberation, that he would not cease to reach and stretch toward despite the challenges he met. Or the profound and legendary contributions of Urvashi Vaid, who passed just a few weeks ago after a lifetime of leading ground breaking, truly intersectional thinking and organizing that enabled our community to see itself in its full depth, promise and breadth, in so many ways. They, and so many others, inspire me to stay the course, and to be even bolder, even more intentional than ever. So with pride, I say let’s continue to say: YES. YES I CAN and YES I AM. Let’s resist the fatigue and the fear and proudly proclaim our next strategy, our next goal, our next big aspiration. Let’s keep the beauty of our people and the way we know our society can be at the forefront, and let’s not use excuses to settle for anything less. Let’s always remember to keep remembering those who came before us. To say their names and to keep their memory alive by doing right by their Pride, their energy, their innovation, their lives, and their gifts of service in the history that they created. For us. And let’s make sure that we, as a community, are using this time to showcase our beautiful and diverse array of expressing Pride for all as means to making ourselves, our society, our lives and that of everyone around us better. More joyful. More colorful. And more proud of not just what we are, but what we will be, together.
Ellen Buchman is an organizer, a narrative and communications expert, civil rights advocate and the president of The Opportunity Agenda (TOA), a community dedicated to building narrative and cultural power to move our nation toward a vision of equity and opportunity for all.
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The most momentous setback to women’s rights in decades came in the wake of this era’s biggest surge in women’s activism — an irony lost on no one. Women marched and marched and marched, most notably at the Women’s March of Jan. 21, 2017, viewed as the largest single-day protest in US history. They organized and mobilized. They disrupted the Senate confirmation hearings of Justice Brett Kavanaugh and made impassioned personal pleas to senators in elevators.Some, like Steigerwald, showed up at demonstrations wearing blood-red cloaks and haunting demeanors, using imagery from Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel “The Handmaid’s Tale,” to show what forced pregnancy would look like in the modern world.None of it changed the outcome that so many had foreseen: Their daughters lost the guarantee of reproductive rights their mothers fought for. And now, these women realize, they are going to have to march some more.“I have to be honest with you, it’s not easy,” said June Rowe, 78, a member of Mystic Valley Action for Choice, who has concerns about a broader erosion of women’s rights, beyond abortion. “It’s always an uphill battle. You feel like you’re now like Sisyphus climbing the hill again.”Many of the signs and fears expressed at the Women’s March on Washington in 2017 focused on the threat Trump posed to abortion rights. That notion drew derision at the time as an overreaction. But on Friday evening, the Women’s March organization released a video compilation of clips from commentators and politicians calling the marchers “hysterical,” and their concerns about an abortion reversal “scare tactics.”“We told you. You didn’t listen,” the video was tagged.But women did listen, and mobilize in tremendous numbers, noted Lauren Duncan, a Smith College professor who teaches on the psychology of political activism. In recent years, their efforts were hampered by the coronavirus pandemic and overshadowed by crises over gun violence and police brutality to Black people. Regardless, the abortion rights activists could not match the efforts of highly organizedopposition, which had been working to overturn Roe v. Wade for decades.“This is a long game that the right has been playing. This is the fruition of what they’ve been working toward for a long time,” Duncan said. She pointed to decades-long Republican efforts to fill courts with conservative judges and state houses with anti-abortion legislators who would bring legal challenges like the Mississippi case at the center of the Supreme Court ruling.“I don’t think this is because we weren’t protesting enough or contributing to Planned Parenthood,” Duncan said. “I think this is a case of the conservative right wanting this for a very long time and doing whatever they could to get it done.”Hundreds of demonstrations have sprung up across the country since the ruling, Rachel O’Leary Carmona, executive director of the Women’s March, said on Saturday. “I think it’s safe to say that women and allies are mobilized now in a way that is very similar to post-2016 election fervor,” she said.Though the ruling had been well forecast — a leaked draft opinion was published by Politico in May — people were still struck hard by it, she said. “For many of us growing up, we were told that Roe was settled and this was a right we would always have,” she said.Dismissing women’s concerns as overstated is not unique to this movement, said Duncan, who warned that “Women are not taken seriously,” even within progressive social justice campaigns.“The history of the civil rights movement — actually any movement you can choose — women’s concerns were always pooh-poohed,” Duncan said.History is little comfort to young activists such as Siobhan Reidy, who led a 2020 demonstration in downtown Boston opposing Trump’s third nominee to the Supreme Court, Justice Amy Coney Barrett. There, she pledged that Roe v. Wade was “settled law, and she will not take that away from us.”On Friday, after Roe was reversed, Reidy began fretting that the Republican Party could pass a federal abortion ban if it reclaims majorities in Congress in the midterm elections.“I will be completely honest: I don’t have much faith that they won’t get the House and the Senate, given voter restriction laws and the historic low turnout from Democrats. Which is terrifying as a young woman,” said Reidy, a recent college graduate who now faces a “mountain of student debt” and the expectation that she will earn less in the workforce than her male peers.“To go into a world that’s already falling apart and have one more thing on top of it that’s going to hurt everyone – is really terrifying.”Activists like Laura Kacir of Somerville take to the streets in Arlington to protest the Supreme Court decision on abortion. pic.twitter.com/OoEcg2dkHR— Stephanie Ebbert (@StephanieEbbert) June 24, 2022 Abortion opponents swiftly began pursuing a more comprehensive ban on abortion the day of the ruling. Former vice president Mike Pence immediately proposed a national abortion ban. And in Massachusetts, one of 16 states where abortion rights are expressly protected under local law or constitution, the Catholic Action League made clear it would not be satisfied with state-by-state restrictions.“Hopefully, after today, many innocent lives will be saved,” C.J. Doyle, executive director of the Catholic Action League, said in a statement Friday. “But, so long as the legal personhood of the unborn child is denied, hundreds of thousands will continue to be killed each year in the United States of America.”To the defeated advocates who had been rallying for reproductive rights, that means a new round of battle is just beginning.Lora Venesy, whose advocacy for women’s empowerment began over a decade ago, said her friends had coined a phrase for their feelings now: “Sadraged.”“It’s so weird to feel sad and enraged at the same time,” said Venesy, 53, of Concord.To Tami Gouveia, who led the Massachusetts chapter of the Women’s March on Washington in 2017, the Supreme Court ruling was less a rebuke to marchers’ efforts than a vindication.“It is exactly the reason why we marched,” Gouveia said. “We saw this coming. We knew this was coming.”What she now fears is a larger “rollback of civil rights writ large.” The far right, she said, wants to “create a new day where the bodily autonomy of anybody who’s not a white cis gender Christian man is called into question.”“We have to take the political muscle that we have been building over the last five years and put that to use,” said Gouveia, who is now a state representative and a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor.Steigerwald, the head of a women’s nonprofit and a cofounder of the handmaids-themed protest group, the Boston Red Cloaks, decided not to wear her arresting red cloak to the demonstration she held in Lexington on Friday. Feelings were just too raw, she said, and she wanted to counter the mind-set that seemed to have been advanced with the Supreme Court ruling: that “a fetus is more important than the living, human woman in front of you.”“There needs to be no confusion that the Supreme Court has decided to harm people — actual people who are born,” Steigerwald said. “They’re not hurting fictional characters. They’re hurting people.”Stephanie Ebbert can be reached at Stephanie.Ebbert@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @StephanieEbbert. | Civil Rights Activism |
Story at a glance Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19, the day in 1865 when the remaining enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom by the Emancipation Proclamation issued two years earlier. President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law last June amid a continued racial reckoning following the death of George Floyd. The last federal holiday established by Congress was Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The U.S. will commemorate on Sunday the newest federal holiday and pivotal piece of history marking the date slavery ended in America. Juneteenth, the first holiday established by Congress since 1983, is celebrated on June 19, the day in 1865 when the remaining enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom by the Emancipation Proclamation issued two years earlier by Abraham Lincoln. President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law last June amid a continued racial reckoning following the death of George Floyd. The federal holiday, enacted on June 17, 2021, was already recognized by most states. The last federal holiday established by Congress was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, honoring the iconic Civil Rights leader. “Juneteenth marks both the long, hard night of slavery and subjugation, and a promise of a brighter morning to come. This is a day of profound — in my view — profound weight and profound power,” Biden said last year, adding it is a day Americans remember the “moral stain” of slavery. “The truth is, it’s not — simply not enough just to commemorate Juneteenth,” Biden continued. “After all, the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans didn’t mark the end of America’s work to deliver on the promise of equality; it only marked the beginning.” Knowledge of Juneteenth has only grown in the U.S. since it was made a federal holiday, recent polling shows. A Gallup survey released yesterday revealed that 88 percent of respondents knew at least a little about the significance of the day. Additionally, a majority of those surveyed by Gallup believe the history of Juneteenth should be taught in schools, reflecting a substantial increase since last year. There are a host of celebrations across the U.S. this weekend, including in Washington, D.C. where The Juneteenth Foundation kicked off four days of events for its Freedom Festival on Thursday. The weekend events are expected to feature celebrity guests such as rappers T.I., Rick Ross and Big Sean, musicians Maxwell and Keri Hilson, and former NFL quarterback Michael Vick. America is changing faster than ever! Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news. Juneteenth also serves as a day when Americans might remember persistent inequities experienced by the Black community that were again laid bare by the coronavirus pandemic. People in the D.C. area may register to screen “The Color of Care” at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The film “chronicles how Black Americans have been subjected to systematically substandard healthcare,” according to the museum. Those unable to attend larger events can also celebrate in other ways. Interested parties might visit Juneteenth.com to read a deeper history of how the day of freedom has evolved over generations. For those seeking to make an immediate impact, the site recommends supporting local, Black-owned businesses. “These grassroots, ground-level contributions make a daily impact on work, quality of life, and growth in the community,” the site read. “Make a daily, weekly, and yearly conscious effort to plant your economic seeds and watch them grow.” Americans could also support Black communities year around as the nation moves closer toward equality, activists say. “Support Black people before Juneteenth so it won’t look like a performance,” activist and multimedia journalist Lance Cooper tweeted. READ MORE STORIES FROM CHANGING AMERICA HERE’S THE AGE WHEN AMERICANS GET THE LEAST AMOUNT OF SLEEP MOST AMERICANS AGREE THAT TRANSGENDER MEN AND WOMEN ARE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST: POLL WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW NOVAVAX VACCINE FOR COVID-19 ABORTIONS IN THE US INCREASED IN 2020, REVERSING A MORE THAN 30-YEAR DECLINE LIZZO REMOVES ‘HARMFUL WORD’ FROM SONG: ‘I NEVER WANT TO PROMOTE DEROGATORY LANGUAGE’ Published on Jun. 17, 2022 | Civil Rights Activism |
No longer just an online movement, Black Twitter takes to the streets—and finds its voice.Illustration: Aaron MarinA People’s History of Black TwitterRead our special three-part series.Rising Up, 2012–2016Following the death of Trayvon Martin, Black Twitter launched an online campaign in support of Martin and his family. As outcry swelled, George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who fatally shot Martin, was arrested—laying the groundwork for what would become the biggest social justice movement of our time.This article appears in the September 2021 issue. Subscribe to WIRED.
Illustration: Aaron MarinAndré Brock, author of Distributed Blackness: African American Cybercultures: A lot of early Black tech adopters were really skeptical of what Twitter could do. Even Black folk were like, this is not a serious place.Tracy Clayton, host of the podcast Strong Black Legends: Once the newness of the platform wore off, I think it was more like, OK, what do we do with our voices now that we found them? The murder of Trayvon Martin is when I first saw Black Twitter’s potential, and the potential of Twitter, to create actual offline change.Wesley Lowery, 60 Minutes+ correspondent: My first tweet about Trayvon Martin said, “Until a 17-year-old black boy can walk into any store in America to buy Skittles without being gunned down, we can’t stop talking about race.” It was one of those first instances of getting used to the idea that I could say things and those messages could find like-minded people to participate in this dialog that was bigger than myself.Jamilah Lemieux, Slate columnist: If it weren’t for Black Twitter, George Zimmerman would not have been arrested.Clayton: I remember watching the trial with Twitter. I remember watching Rachel Jeantel testify and my heart breaking for the situation that she was in. It was a great vehicle not only for social change but also for healing—being able to mourn and grieve and process with people. That’s what really changed my mind about what Twitter was for. I guess, for me, it was entertainment before.Naima Cochrane, music and culture journalist: That was probably the beginning of what we now consider hashtag activism, if you want to call it that.A year later, on August 9, 2014, 18-year-old Michael Brown, who had graduated from high school the week prior, was killed in Ferguson, Missouri. He was shot six times.Sarah J. Jackson, coauthor of #Hashtag Activism: Networks of Race and Gender Justice: One of the very first tweets to use “Ferguson”—people hadn’t even started using the hashtag #Ferguson, they were just using the word—was from a young woman who was one of Michael Brown’s neighbors. She stepped out on her doorstep, took a picture, and basically described what she saw. She didn’t have a lot of followers. She wasn’t an influencer. She wasn’t an activist. She was just a community member.Johnetta Elzie, St. Louis activist: I was out running errands, and I remember being on Twitter cracking jokes. Then a woman DMs me. She was like, “Netta, I just saw this picture float down my timeline. I think you should see it.”April Reign, diversity and inclusion advocate: I saw someone post something like, Damn, I think they just shot somebody outside my window. And he posted a picture of Mike Brown’s lifeless body on the ground. He had taken the picture, I guess, from the inside of his apartment.Judnick Mayard, TV writer and producer: For the first time in one of these shootings, information was getting to us, from us. There was visual evidence.Reign: There was also a lot of emotion involved, and people started to mobilize almost immediately.Elzie: I had to make a lot of decisions that day. My boyfriend at the time was like, “Do you want to keep showing up for this every day or do you want to go back to life the way it already was?”Sylvia Obell, host of the podcast Okay, Now Listen: People were like, I’m being sent to Ferguson. It was becoming a story because of Twitter.Lowery: One of the first things I did as I got on the airplane was, I tweeted, “Hey I’m gonna head down to Ferguson who should I talk to?” And my mentions just filled up with the @s of all of these activists on the ground, people who lived in the area, and local politicians. It very much felt like it was this story that was playing out on the internet.Denver Sean, editor of LoveBScott.com: The Trayvon situation was more, I guess, reactive. With Ferguson, I realized that Twitter was a place for raw, unfiltered, in-the-moment reporting. That was the first time I saw Black Twitter in the streets in real time.Kashmir Thompson, visual artist: I remember Johnetta [Elzie] being one of the first people that I really saw tweeting about it. When it happened, it was like, oh shit, now I need to follow her. She was really there.Elzie: It wasn’t like I was shocked that the St. Louis police had killed someone. The police had just shot and killed one of my closest friends in February.Obell: Police brutality didn’t start when Twitter started. The difference was that Twitter made it so that it was no longer just local news that could be snuffed out. We were able to watch ourselves collectively grieve.Mayard: I don’t think other people have ever been privy to our in-real-time pain. I don’t think people have ever been privy to how widespread the knowledge was that we were being killed. It’s one thing to see every Black person in your life be like, why did they kill that boy? It’s another thing to see in real time millions of Black people say—let’s keep it a buck—they murdered that boy.K. Thompson: It was draining. But you couldn’t stop watching because you never knew what was going to happen next.Sean: There were a lot of people trying to figure out exactly what happened. There were a lot of conflicting views of what should be shared, what should be shown, what should be retweeted.Did it matter that certain participants in that conversation were not, as critics liked to point out at the time, “real journalists”?Reign: There were over a thousand tweets about Mike Brown and his murder before any national news outlet picked it up.Cochrane: As much as three days before national news outlets were in Ferguson, people from Black Twitter were in Ferguson.Jackson: We knew Michael Brown was a teenager, and we knew that he wasn’t armed. We knew all these things that we felt with our intuition. But they were validated by the fact that members of our community were there with firsthand accounts giving us that information.Sean: We didn’t have to rely on major news outlets like CNN or MSNBC. We could hear live from people who were there. We could see it. We could feel it.Rembert Browne, writer: A lot of publications just sent photographers down, and the reports that were coming back felt very ruin-porny, very look at how bad things are. It felt like it wasn’t telling the full story.Clayton: I knew that I couldn’t trust white media for shit. The importance of people at the protests being able to capture footage and document what was actually going on—it’s priceless. Priceless because the media has such influence over how people think and how people feel and how people see Black people.Brandon Jenkins, TV and podcast host: It became inarguable, like, whoa, there are people on the ground that maybe aren’t trained as journalists, but they have truth and emotion behind them.Meredith Clark, author of a forthcoming book on Black Twitter: There were people that the news media ignored for years, for decades, who were saying these things are problems—the oversurveillance of our communities is a problem, the brutality of the police is a problem.Lemieux: I started my writing career as a blogger. I went to school for theater. I was not trained as a reporter. My first real reporting assignment, I find myself in a fucking war zone where the state of Missouri and the city of Ferguson have declared war on their Black citizens.Reign: I remember sharing information about if you get tear-gassed or pepper-sprayed, don’t use water, use milk; or this is where people are going to be meeting and protesting today. Everybody who was on the ground could look to Black Twitter to get the most up-to-date information.Compounded by the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner that same year, a national movement for racial justice, fueled by hashtags, caught fire.Kozza Babumba, head of social at Genius: That was just a terrible, wild summer.Mayard: It was the beginning of everything we argue about now. All of it started with watching some people die and saying Black Lives Matter, y’all are murdering us.Ashley Weatherspoon, founder of DearYoungQueen.com: I think that period started a bit of the pressure for other communities to participate in Black issues. Other races would go on their social media accounts and see something like Black Lives Matter trending. And if you didn’t participate, then you didn’t fuck with Black lives. All of a sudden we—as a Black Twitter and a community—were able to say, hey, this is what we are doing. This is how we are fighting over here. What’s up?Clayton: Once the realization was made that Twitter should be a tool for social justice, we had the responsibility to use it for that.Weatherspoon: I remember for the first time seeing that a hashtag could represent a movement. And that the hashtag could build a movement. Reign: There’s Snapchat and Facebook and Instagram and all the rest of them, but everything now has a hashtag. Everything! That came from Twitter.Cochrane: A hashtag could be an emphasis. A hashtag could be a slogan. A hashtag could be a tagline or a mantra.Obell: #BlackLivesMatter is the first civil rights movement named after a hashtag.Lowery: #BlackLivesMatter had staying power because it captured the ideology of the street protests and of this moment. It wasn’t just justice in a specific case or specific thing. It was a bigger critique of our society and our structure.Mayard: A friend had a really great tweet where he was like, “Saying ‘BLM’ defeats the purpose of Black Lives Matter. Because it was always intended for you to have to say out loud the words ‘Black lives matter.’” That’s why it was the hashtag that changed the world—because it sounded like a radical thing to say and write.Beyond #BlackLivesMatter, Black users—particularly women—were using other notable hashtags, adding dimension and complexity to a growing demand for change.Lemieux: #SolidarityIsForWhiteWomen opened up a conversation that went on for quite a while [started by the essayist and feminist Mikki Kendall]. It helped put that stake in the ground and inform people that Black feminists do not get our shit from white women. This is around the time that “white feminism” became a term that entered the internet cultural zeitgeist.Jackson: Way before anyone ever hashtagged the phrase “Me too,” there were Black women who were members of Black Twitter using this whole corpus of hashtags—ones like #SurvivorPrivilege, #FastTailedGirls, and #WhyIStayed—to talk about things ranging from in-group street harassment to intimate partner abuse to stereotypes about how Black girls are sexualized.Brock: I’m thinking of Feminista Jones’ #YouOKSis hashtag. Black women really congregated to lift each other up.CaShawn Thompson, educator: #BlackGirlMagic started as #BlackGirlsAreMagic. It was an exciting utterance. What I saw in Black women—my mom, my aunts, and my grandmas—was magic. Literally. The stuff that I was hearing about Black women just didn’t line up with my understanding. So I said it.God-is Rivera, global director of culture and community at Twitter: #SayHerName was just tough. I mean, I’m a Black woman raising a Black little girl. The idea that even in our own community, we weren’t screaming loud enough for those Black women. You know, I think that’s the beauty of #SayHerName. It showed that we’re not always of one accord because we’re Black or we’re part of Black Twitter. It’s calling out the work that we have to do as well.Reign: #MeToo was started by a Black woman, Tarana Burke. It was popularized by Alyssa Milano, who overstepped. She needed to be checked, and Black Twitter did that.Jackson: When people tell the story of #MeToo, if they don’t tell the story of the work that preceded it, that made it possible, that made the space one where those networks were connected by Black women who were already tweeting about these topics, then they’re not telling the whole story.But even as it demanded action and change, Black Twitter continued to be a site for collective joy and nostalgia.Lowery: The reality is, the movement for Black lives broadly is a protest movement that has driven thousands, if not millions, of young Black people into the streets. There was no question that jokes were gonna be gotten off. This was a period that was very heavy, but Black people, as a means of finding levity, were also expressing this. That meme of the nerdy-looking Black guy with his arms crossed and the other one where he’s on the cell phone—that meme originated from an I Support Darren Wilson rally. There was a lot of funny stuff that happened in this weird way.Babumba: We’re able to tell you what’s poppin’, what’s popular, what’s hot. The Zola story [the viral Twitter thread about a trip to Florida that is now a Hollywood film] is an example of We are culture. We make culture.Brock: Zola’s story, “Meet me in Temecula” [@SnottieDrippen vs. @MyTweetsRealAF, and the fight that didn’t happen]—they weren’t hashtags, but they also became part of Black Twitter lore.Obell: It’s the reprieve of joy and comedy that I get from Black Twitter that I love the most. And #ThanksgivingWithBlackFamilies are all so funny because it was everybody realizing: Did we all have the same upbringing?Clayton: It was a celebration of the parts of Black culture that white people can’t access. They can pretend they know about it, but they don’t know nothing about throwing a plate away face down so Big Momma can’t see you didn’t like her macaroni and cheese. It was so affirming and so insidery.K. Thompson: I didn’t see #ThanksgivingWithBlackFamilies until I created#ThanksgivingClapback. This was 2015. That’s the thing about Twitter: When stuff like this happens, it’s never because you planned it. I just remember tweeting about how Thanksgiving was coming up and having to deal with the microaggressions of your family members.Elzie: That’s where we all started to realize we all live the same-ass life. Like, oh my God, these Black parents, these grandparents, these great grandparents, aunties and uncles, they all say the same shit, do the same shit.Obell: When you guys opened the cookie tin, it didn’t have the cookies in it either? That wasn’t just me? Those types of relatable Black moments are my favorite on Twitter.Illustration: Aaron MarinAnother relatable Black moment: not seeing some of your biggest stars get the recognition they deserve.Reign: In January 2015, I was still a practicing attorney at the time. I probably had around 8,000 followers. I was a huge movie fan. I was getting ready for work that morning and watching the Oscar nominations. And it just struck me. I picked up my phone and tweeted “#OscarsSoWhite they asked to touch my hair”—and that was it.Obell: It wasn’t something I thought that people would care about in a public way, because we are not in the industry.Reign: There was no “I’m going to strategize with my team about how we can shake up the industry.” There was none of that. I was half-dressed in my family room. 2015 meant 2014 films, so we had stuff like Beyond the Lights and Selma. There were a few other really strong performances that you think would have at least gotten a nomination.Clark: Why would we sit through an award show where the people who are establishing the criteria of excellence have deemed that no person of color, let alone no Black person, is worthy of even a nomination? Like, what do you do with that?Reign: Around lunchtime, I check back in on Twitter, and based on that one tweet, #OscarsSoWhite was trending around the world.K. Thompson: There was a specific sector of Black Twitter that was interested in that, but there was a specific sector of Black Twitter that wasn’t. It was important to certain people, and it definitely had its impact.Reign: In 2016, the one-year anniversary, once again there were no people of color nominated for any of the acting categories. It seemed like the media said, OK, you know, one time was a fluke, two times is a pattern. Maybe this woman actually has something here. #OscarsSoWhite actually took off more the second year.Cochrane: To see it become a whole industry-acknowledged thing, to see April Reign invited to the Oscars—it’s one of those moments where you are like, wow, look at my people!Finally, after years of hashtag activism and real-world change, even Twitter HQ began to take notice of what was happening on its platform.Reign: It’s very, very clear that Twitter—the corporation—knows that it would be nothing without Black Twitter.Brock: It’s really fascinating to see what we can do with tools that people thought were just throwaways and make them better or make them even more valuable.Elzie: Jack would say himself, Ferguson taught them at Twitter how to maximize and how to use their platform.Babumba: I’ve been in a room where Jack Dorsey was like, Twitter exists because of Black Twitter. He said it. He’s saying, we are as big as we are, and we are as relevant as we are, because of Black Twitter.Rivera: Black culture is the driving force of culture globally. No matter what, pick a date and time, it has always been something that is filled with ingenuity and sets the tone. We don’t always get the credit for it, but naturally that phenomenon has continued in the digital space.Lowery: But there is a commodification of Blackness. Like all things, once it becomes a commodity, it loses that original-recipe sauce.That was what Black Twitter would have to figure out as it found its voice on the national stage: How to maintain its identity. How to be private and public at the same time. And how to protect its users from exploitation and abuse.Read Part III here.Images: Scott Olson/Getty Images; Bettman/Getty Images, David Madison/Getty Images, Sarah Morris/Getty Images; Heritage Art/Heritage Images/Getty Images; Joshua Lott/Getty Images; Ted Soqui/Corbis/Getty ImagesLet us know what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor at mail@wired.com.Jason Parham is a senior writer at WIRED covering Black creative labor, emerging trends, and the digital culture of sex. Before joining the publication in 2017, he was an editor at The Fader and Gawker. | Civil Rights Activism |
One of the country’s foremost ethnic studies scholars, who was denied tenure at Harvard in 2019 — prompting outrage from students and faculty nationwide and reigniting calls for more diversity at the school and in academia more broadly — has dissected the experience in depth for the first time in a new book. In “Community as Rebellion: A Syllabus for Surviving Academia as a Woman of Color,” Lorgia García-Peña provides details about the harassment and “institutional violence” she says she faced while navigating everyday life as a faculty member on the predominantly white campus. She also highlights the need for radical changes to make academia more accessible to scholars and students of color. García-Peña moved from the University of Georgia to Harvard in 2013, becoming the only tenure-track Black Latina professor in the school’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences. That was the start of what she describes in her book as an “abusive eight-year relationship” with her employer, marred by what she characterizes as painful moments of aggression, ranging from off-handed comments from other professors to threats against her career. The Harvard campus, in Cambridge, Mass.Maddie Meyer / Getty Images file“We don’t talk too much about institutional trauma because it is often dismissed as unreal,” she told NBC News. “You know it is real because of the way your body reacts.” In 2016, García-Peña writes, she was attacked on campus by two men who threw hot coffee at her and yelled, “Build the wall.” In 2019, she found a note on her office door saying, “You don’t belong here.” In 2020, her online lecture was “Zoombombed” — and the infiltrators called for her to be lynched, she writes. García-Peña refers to these incidents and others in her book as acts of “institutional violence,” a term she uses to decry the implications of centuries' worth of exclusion of people of color from academic circles. “What I’m trying to convey with the book is that that’s just one experience out of a multiplicity of violent experiences that women of color in particular, but not only, experience in the academy,” she said. Those experiences came to a head in late 2019, when García-Peña, whose courses covered topics such as immigration and Latino literature, was denied tenure. The decision led to swift and fierce backlash from scholars in her discipline. About 50 students staged a sit-in in protest and called on the university to create a more formalized ethnic studies program, The Harvard Crimson reported. More than 5,000 academics and students inside and outside of Harvard signed a petition calling the denial “a disavowal of Harvard’s recent commitment to invest in Ethnic Studies.” “It was clearly wrong what happened,” García-Peña said. “Everybody knew it.” Claudine Gay, Harvard’s dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, agreed to a review of the school’s tenure process in December 2019. In February 2020, García-Peña filed a formal grievance regarding her denial, according to The New Yorker, after learning that a professor on her tenure committee had referred to her scholarship as “activism” rather than research. Throughout the process, a majority of her colleagues, with a few notable exceptions, didn’t support her, García-Peña said. “While the students were protesting, they would literally cross the street, to not be seen, to not be interpolated, to not have to engage,” she said. “Their silence was complicity.” A spokesperson for Harvard would not comment on García-Peña’s book, or any of the specific incidents she alleges in it, and referred NBC News to the school’s most recent faculty diversity report. In October 2021, the school released a 106-page report from the Tenure-Track Review Committee that found the system overall to be “structurally sound.” The report recommended several changes, including increasing transparency in the tenure review process and mitigating potential bias in the system. The review made an effort to focus on how the tenure-track system affects women and faculty of color, according to the school’s website. By the time the report was released, however, García-Peña was gone. She left Harvard that spring for a tenured position at Tufts University, about 10 minutes away, where she is as an associate professor and chair of the department of studies in race, colonialism and diaspora. Her time at Harvard did bring about some small victories though, she writes, including the creation of a minor in ethnic studies for undergraduates and a graduate certificate program in Latino studies. She also said the controversy spurred new urgency around the importance of ethnic studies programs and the need to increase faculty diversity in academia. “Before the Nikole Hannah-Jones case, there had not been a case so public,” she said. Nikole Hannah-Jones, the New York Times Magazine journalist and creator of the Pulitzer Prize-winning "1619 Project" on the seminal impact of slavery on the country's formation and history, was initially not offered tenure in April 2021 by the University of North-Carolina, after landing the school’s prestigious Knight Chair in Race and Investigative Journalism. Fierce backlash prompted the university’s board of trustees to eventually offer her tenure, but Hannah-Jones decided instead to accept a tenured position at Howard University, a historically Black school, rather than UNC, her alma mater. The cases of García-Peña and Hannah-Jones brought national attention to the harsh realities faced by women and faculty of color in academia, even as many colleges and universities committed to anti-racism in the summer of 2020. In fall of 2020, nearly three quarters of full-time faculty at degree-granting colleges and universities in the U.S. were white, according to the latest available data from the National Center for Education Statistics. Four percent were Black females and 3 percent were Latinas. Harvard Yard, on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass.Charles Krupa / AP fileThat dynamic has informed much of García-Peña’s experience in academia. A first-generation college student born in the Dominican Republic, she said she seldom saw her life experiences reflected in the courses she took and the faculty who led them. “The message that I received from the courses I took, the professors I had, was, 'Your people are not creators of knowledge; your people are objects of study,'” she said. In recent years, potential solutions to improving faculty diversity have cropped up across the country, including cluster hiring and new postdoctoral fellowships. While García-Peña believes some of those innovations can have beneficial impacts, she says academia needs to think bigger. She's calling for a “revolution” that diversifies public funding so that schools are less dependent on rich donors. She said what gives her hope is not the institutional initiatives she sees, but rather, the next generation of students and faculty, who are “questioning things” and “doing things differently.” “The more open conversations we have about what is wrong with academia," she said, "the more people can come into these career positions with their eyes wide open and knowing what to expect." Follow NBC Latino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. | Civil Rights Activism |
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Facts matter: Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily newsletter. Support our nonprofit reporting. Subscribe to our print magazine.For 250 years, the United States has struggled to live up to its founding promises of equality, liberty, and democracy, only slowly and haltingly expanding those freedoms beyond the white, land-owning men to whom they were initially guaranteed. In his leaked draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade and ending the constitutional right to an abortion that Politico published Monday night, Justice Samuel Alito laid out the conservative movement’s project to reverse that progress and return the country, at least morally and legally, to the 19th century.
In order to toss the constitutional right to abortion, Alito takes a tour through the past to show that abortion is not “deeply rooted in this Nation’s history and tradition.” Such historical excavation is common for the Supreme Court, and a regular part of its methodology. But when it comes to the project of creating an equal society that guarantees first class citizenship to all, seeking moral clarity from an era when only wealthy white men enjoyed the promised freedoms of the Constitution is a rigged game. The right to an abortion in Roe was partly anchored in the 14th Amendment’s substantive due process right. So Alito returns to 1868 to see how abortion was viewed at the time it was written. “By the time of the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment, three-quarters of the States had made abortion a crime at any stage of pregnancy, and the remaining States would soon follow,” Alito writes. He does not mention that it would be another 50 years before most women could vote for the elected officials who held the power to criminalize abortion. And it would be yet another 50 years before women could get a credit card without their husbands’ permission. If the purpose of the historical analysis is to ascertain what was considered a protected right long ago, it will be a recipe for undoing the progress of the 20th century. And that is, clearly, the point.
“A decision overruling Roe v. Wade would threaten an entire line of jurisprudence rooted in the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of liberty,” Melissa Murray, an expert in constitutional law and reproductive rights at the New York University School of Law warned in the New York Times in December. “This line of cases goes back to a 1923 decision guaranteeing parents the right to raise their children free of undue state intervention, and it includes the right to marry, the right to engage in adult sexual relationships and the right to use contraception.”
Alito’s draft opinion breathes life into a right-wing campaign to remove the legal foundation not just for abortion but other rights around marriage and intimacy. During the recent confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, several Republican senators lamented that the Supreme Court was in the business of making up “new” rights that weren’t explicitly named in the Constitution, especially through the 14th Amendment’s substantive due process clause. “Marriage is not in the Constitution, is it?” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) asked Jackson, as part of a line of questioning attacking the Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling finding a constitutional right to same-sex marriage.
In the midst of Jackson’s confirmation hearings, Sen. Mike Braun (R-Indiana) let slip that not only should abortion be left up to the states, but so should the legality of interracial marriage. He quickly backtracked, but the cat was out of the bag. Conservatives who argue today that they only want to overturn abortion rights know that interracial marriage, contraception, and other rights based on similar legal and historical analyses are also on the chopping block—and many believe they should be there.
“There’s a frontal challenge to what is essentially a century of Supreme Court precedents that recognize that the 14th Amendment protects fundamental rights, including ones that aren’t specifically mentioned in the Constitution’s text,” David Gans, director of the human rights, civil rights and citizenship program at the Constitutional Accountability Center, told Courthouse News Service at the time of the Jackson hearings. Abortion, he predicted, was only the beginning.
Alito tries to hide the long game in his draft opinion. Abortion, he writes, is “fundamentally different” because it involves the destruction of a fetus. But that’s not a legal distinction that any justice is actually beholden to. What Alito does lay out—his historical analysis—would clearly jeopardize more fundamental rights. “All the other privacy rights are clearly in jeopardy, despite Alito’s assurance,” Adam Winkler, a constitutional law expert at the UCLA School of Law, explained on Twitter. “Contraception, interracial marriage, sexual intimacy—none of those rights could withstand Alito’s history and tradition test that looks only to the law existing before the 14th amendment.” These all rights, secured after the country’s founding, that anchor the United States among 21st century democracies rather than 19th century theocracies.
In any case, Alito’s history is incomplete, cherry-picking some facts while ignoring others. Looking to abortion laws at the time the 14th Amendment passed enshrines the patriarchy of the era but excludes the 14th Amendment’s goals of bodily autonomy and the freedom to choose one’s family. The 14th Amendment, Gans argued last November in the Atlantic, was a sweeping addition to the Constitution intended to undue the legacy of slavery. Under slavery, men and women could not control their own bodies, who they married, or when they had children. “One of slavery’s cruelest aspects was the brutal denial of reproductive autonomy in matters of family life,” Gans wrote. “Plantation owners forced enslaved women to bear children who would be born into bondage… Not only were enslaved people coerced into bearing children; enslaved people in loving relationships had no right to marry or raise children of their own.” Lawmakers who drafted the 14th Amendment had in mind the freedom to form a family as one desires when they expanded the freedoms of citizenship to all Americans. Abortion, contraception, and marriage equality are among the necessary tools Americans need to exercise that freedom.
But that part of history does not fit the goals of the anti-abortion movement, leading Alito to dismiss it—while firing off a shot across the bow of other rights. “These attempts to justify abortion through appeals to a broader right to autonomy and to define one’s ‘concept of existence’ prove too much,” he writes, warning that such a view could be used to legalize illicit drug use or prostitution. “None of these rights has any claim to being deeply rooted in history.”
If the founders didn’t explicitly name a right, then there’s no place for it in Alito’s America. In a few months, that may be everyone’s America. | Civil Rights Activism |
In spite of its origins in Black and queer working-class communities, dance music has long been co-opted and whitewashed. As evidence, see producer Kaytranada being the first Black artist to win best dance/electronic album at the Grammys as late as 2021, or the recent surprise at Drake and Beyoncé putting out work rooted in house music, in spite of its origins in Black and queer working-class communities. “I have a word for it,” offers internationally renowned DJ and producer Honey Dijon, with a wry but assertive laugh: “Colonisation.”And like a forward-thinking museum or gallery owner – but with rather more flair for shoulder pads and ballroom attitude – Dijon is decolonising culture. We meet ahead of her headline show at Koko, in London, where her set shines a light not just on the humid mass singing along beneath an enormous disco ball, but also on dance music’s history of Blackness, queerness and transness, which peaks when she plays an exuberant remix of the late disco icon Sylvester, perhaps the first out gay pop star. “House music was sold and repackaged to the people who created it,” Dijon says. “It has gone from culture to entertainment, and what I try to do in my work is constantly protest against forgetting where this music came from – not in a nostalgic way, but in a critical way.”Born in Chicago, Dijon came of age in the mid-80s, when house music burst out of her city. Sitting on a sofa in a London hotel room, she recalls a childhood being bullied for being gender non-conforming, and how art and fashion provided safe spaces. She talks about her love of fashion magazines, bell hooks and James Baldwin, and points out that – for all she is dressed simply in jeans and a T-shirt – she’s wearing a belt with “Slave to the rhythm” emblazoned on it, a homage to Grace Jones which comes from her own fashion line, Honey Fucking Dijon.‘I’m grateful for my trauma, because it taught me how to figure it out’ … Honey Dijon. Photograph: Robert RiegerDijon was drawn to the house scene’s early parties in high school auditoriums and skating rinks. “I remember getting so lost in the music – it became an obsession,” she says. She became a dancer and amassed a vast array of records; Chicago legends Derrick Carter and Mark Farina shared a loft and she watched them to learn how to DJ. She moved to New York in the late 90s and started playing on Monday nights for $60 and a Coca-Cola. A few years later, she would be playing clubs in Europeincluding Berghain in Berlin, and by the early 2010s, her career had finally taken off. She has done remixes for Lady Gaga and Madonna, and is rumoured to have worked on Beyoncé’s forthcoming album, a rumour she won’t confirm. Dijon also makes her own colourful music, for largely the same reasons she started DJing. “I wasn’t hearing the house records I wanted to hear – so necessity is the mother of all invention,” she says with a drawl. Her second album, Black Girl Magic – a joyful testament to love, healing, community care and protest – is set for release later this year.In the past few weeks, Dijon has played Coachella, Las Vegas and Grace Jones’s Meltdown festival in London. Glastonbury awaits this weekend. She shrugs off her relentless schedule, and underlines her mission. “Dancefloors do what religions and governments can’t, – bringing people together from all walks of life. But the people that created this culture are not profiting from it. Until we have people of colour as the festival owners, promoters, booking agents, clubs, then it’s all just optics.”She curated the lineup for her Koko show to include Pxssy Palace, the UK nightlife collective that whose aim is to create a space for marginalised queer people of colour. “It’s not optics – these people are talented,” Dijon says. “We’re showing dance music that there are queer people of colour who sell out venues.”That level of support was more difficult to come by in Dijon’s own career. It’s telling that, on Instagram, she repeatedly uses the hashtag #bethethingyouwishtosee – it might seem a little trite, but this is the framework she has built a life with. “I had to create the space I occupy,” she says. “I transitioned at the same time I started my DJ career, in 1998, which was at a time when there was hardly any trans visibility.”Adoring crowd … Honey Dijon performing at Koko, London, in May. Photograph: Ro MurphyIt was a struggle, she recalls, as the only places that would book her were gay clubs: “I didn’t play pop music, that wasn’t my history. But I would take those gigs, because I would have DJ’d the opening of a can of paint back then if it meant I could DJ. I wasn’t gay enough for the gay crowds, and I was too gay for the underground crowds, so it was difficult for me.”As trans visibility has increased, Dijon has noticed a change. “I stuck around long enough for there to be a culture shift: ‘Why aren’t there women on line-ups?’ Though at that time, it was white women – and it still is. But at least that conversation was opening.” She frowns. “I still find it challenging. I tick a lot of boxes for a lot of people, but I also feel like I have the skillset and talent as an artist to really not have to be tokenised. I show up and I bring culture with me. So I’m grateful for my trauma, because it taught me how to figure it out. My success is that I survived and persevered.”We touch on white feminism and fragility, and the layers of transphobia often embedded within those spheres, notably here in the UK. She is unfazed: “I don’t really give a shit what white women think about my womanhood. As someone who does not walk in those shoes, you cannot define me. I’m self-determined, we all are, I don’t need your permission.” Trans people, she continues, are “fighting for humanitarian causes, not gender issues. We just want our humanity recognised. I’m a human being and I share this planet with you, and just because you have a certain colour of skin or a certain biology doesn’t mean you’re better than me. We need to learn our own power and stop trying to borrow theirs, ’cos they ain’t giving it up.”I ask if it’s at all frustrating that so much of our conversation ends up rooted in politics and identity, rather than us simply talking about the music. She shrugs. “The personal is political. I think when you’re not a cis-hetero white man, you’re political by existing, pretty much. And there’s nothing wrong with it being political – if you think about the music from the 70s, it was conscious music about civil rights and empowering people of colour. Music is a very powerful tool to empower people. So I don’t have a negative reaction to that, because music can be political. But it can also be a lot of other things, it can be sexual, it can be pleasure, it can be release, it can be escape.” Hours later, in a crowd of flailing, uninhibited limbs belonging to people of all ages and backgrounds, it feels like all those things at once. | Civil Rights Activism |
The arrest in India of a prominent human rights activist accused of criminal conspiracy and fabrication of evidence against Prime Minister Narendra Modi has triggered outrage across the global human rights community.
On Saturday, Gujarat police arrested activist Teesta Setalvad and former senior police officer and whistleblower RB Sreekumar. The two and another former police officer, Sanjiv Bhatt — who has already been jailed for life in a case of custodial killing — were named in a First Information Report (FIR) related to the Gujarat riots.
Setalvad is known for her fight in support of the victims of the 2002 riots in which more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, died in communal riots when Modi was the chief minister of the western state.
During the riots, Gujarat state police were accused of sitting idle while Hindu mobs hacked and burned Muslims to death. India’s National Human Rights Commission then blamed Modi’s Gujarat government for not taking basic steps to prevent violence and failing to respond to specific pleas for protection during the riots. Supporters and activists shout slogans against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a protest against the arrest of Indian activist Teesta Setalvad in Mumbai, June 27, 2022. In 2012, a court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) filed a report noting that there was “no prosecutable evidence” against Modi and his officials and exonerated all of them from complicity in the riots.
On Friday, India’s Supreme Court dismissed a petition that Setalvad and Zakia Jafri — whose husband and former member of Indian parliament, Ehsan Jafri, was burned to death during the riots — had filed challenging Modi’s exoneration by the SIT.
The next day, India’s home minister Amit Shah accused Setalvad of giving false information about the Gujarat riots to the police with an intention to defame Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party.
“The court has, in fact, established that the allegation that the riots were organized as part of a criminal conspiracy was a lie that was spread by a troika of NGOs, the opposition and ideologically driven journalists,” Shah said. “If those who leveled allegations have a conscience, they should apologize.”
Setalvad was picked up by the Gujarat police hours after Shah’s accusation against Setalvad was broadcast on national TV.
In dismissing the petition challenging Modi’s exoneration, the Supreme Court on Friday observed, “At the end of the day, it appears to us that a coalesced effort of the disgruntled officials of the State of Gujarat along with others was to create sensation by making revelations which were false to their own knowledge. ... All those involved in such abuse of process need to be in the dock and proceeded with in accordance with law,” the court said.
Citing observations by the Supreme Court, the police have justified the filing of the FIR and launched investigations against Setalvad and the two former police officers.
Journalist-turned-activist Setalvad founded the rights group Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) to advocate for the victims of the Gujarat riots. In their petition, Setalvad, Zakia Jafri and CJP demanded a criminal trial of Modi and dozens of state officials, alleging criminal conspiracy to spread riots.
Arrest reflects 'shrinking space for dissent, says supporter
Standing in support of Setalvad, rights activists and groups have condemned her arrest and demanded she be released immediately.
Calling her arrest “outrageous,” Govind Acharya, an India specialist at Amnesty International USA, said targeting human rights activists for their legitimate human rights work is “unacceptable.”
“The detention of Teesta Setalvad is a way to punish those who are brave enough to question India's human rights record. Her arrest is part and parcel of the shrinking space for civil society and dissent in India,” Acharya told VOA.
Elaine Pearson, acting Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said Setalvad has long been recognized for her work supporting Muslim victims of the Gujarat riots and her pursuit for justice.
“It is her work, and those of other brave activists like her, that led to the Supreme Court monitoring the investigation and prosecution of scores of people that raped and murdered their neighbors during the riots,” Pearson told VOA.
“It is unfortunate that India’s Supreme Court chose to ignore the work that Teesta has done, despite repeated raids and cases filed against her by Gujarat authorities, perhaps in retaliation or to cover up the failures of the state to protect minority rights.”
Setalvad’s arrest shows how religious minorities and those standing for justice for Muslims are being targeted in India now, New Delhi-based civil rights activist Kavita Krishnan said.
“It’s also a shame that the Supreme Court of India for the very first time has not only failed to deliver justice to the Gujarat riots victims, but has encouraged the state to put the petitioners ‘in the dock,’” Krishnan told VOA.
“The Supreme Court judgment instigating criminalization of the petitioners for justice, followed by the vindictive prosecution by the Gujarat police in collusion with the Modi-Shah regime, is an attempt to chill civil liberties and human rights activism in India,” she said.
Delhi University teacher and social activist Apoorvanand said the arrest of Setalvad based on the direction of the Supreme Court to proceed against her and others is a dangerous signal to all human rights workers fighting to secure justice for the marginalized sections of society.
“It subverts the basic principle of justice that you don’t punish those who are fighting against the all-powerful state seeking justice. To criminalize the act of justice-seeking is a new low for the Supreme Court of India,” Apoorvanand told VOA.
Mary Lawlor, U.N. special rapporteur on human rights defenders, said in a tweet she was “concerned” by the news of Setalvad’s arrest.
“Teesta is a strong voice against hatred and discrimination. Defending human rights is not a crime. I call for her release and an end to persecution by #Indian state,” Lawlor said. | Civil Rights Activism |
Lawyers representing the family of Daunte Wright announced a settlement with the city of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, in connection to the 20-year-old being killed by a police officer during a traffic stop last year. The family will receive $3.25 million as part of the settlement, which has not yet been finalized, and the city's police agreed to implement policy changes on how officers are trained for traffic stops related to “equipment violations” that do not pose a risk to others’ safety. KIM POTTER SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON FOR SHOOTING OF DAUNTE WRIGHT “The comprehensive settlement in this tragic case will provide a meaningful measure of accountability to the family for their deep loss of a son, sibling and father, and they hope and believe the measure of change to policing, policies and training will create important improvements to the community in Daunte’s name,” said Antonio Romanucci, a lawyer representing the family. “Nothing can bring him back, but the family hopes his legacy is a positive one and prevents any other family from enduring the type of grief they will live with for the rest of their lives.” The settlement is the third-largest settlement for a civil rights wrongful death case in the state’s history, according to the family’s attorneys. However, the settlement will not be finalized until a deal on “substantial and meaningful non-monetary relief” is reached. Such nonmonetary relief is expected to include proposed training on officer intervention, implicit bias, de-escalation, weapon identification, and mental crises, the family's legal team said. Wright was shot and killed by now-former officer Kim Potter in April 2021 after being pulled over for a traffic violation related to an expired registration tag on his vehicle. The settlement announcement comes four months after a judge sentenced Potter to two years in prison with a chance of early supervised release following her guilty verdict on two manslaughter charges last December. The sentence is significantly lighter than the 25-year sentence and $50,000 fine she could have faced if given the maximum sentence for both counts. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER A jury found Potter guilty on both charges on Dec. 23, 2021, after four days of deliberation. Potter had pleaded not guilty. Wright was killed after officers attempted to arrest him during the traffic stop. Wright attempted to flee, at which point Potter shot him. She said she thought she had drawn her stun gun instead of her firearm, and body camera footage showed she was repeatedly yelling "Taser!" | Civil Rights Activism |
SANDUSKY, Ohio -- Jim Obergefell, whose landmark case before the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationally, is hoping he and fellow Democrats can make gains in the Ohio Statehouse this year with a message grounded in equality. “It really just all comes down to: Can’t we all just get along and treat each other like human beings? Can’t we be decent people?" the celebrity plaintiff -turned-Ohio House candidate told the Democratic Women of Erie County on a recent summer evening. “And we all deserve to be part of ‘We the People.’"Obergefell, 56, is unopposed in a primary Tuesday for a state legislative seat representing Ohio’s Lake Erie coast through Ottawa and Erie counties. He’s already looking toward a November faceoff against second-term Republican Rep. D.J. Swearingen, 36, a Sandusky attorney who has focused his campaign on “kitchen table” issues.The race marks the first time that Obergefell has moved from activism into a political run for office. He's campaigning at a sensitive time for the LGBTQ rights movement after the U.S. Supreme Court in June repealed the constitutional right to abortion, raising fears that other rights may also fall away, including same-sex marriage.With that in mind, the U.S. House overwhelmingly voted last month to approve legislation protecting same-sex and interracial marriages. The legislation is being considered in the Senate. Obergefell became among the most visible figures in the marriage equality movement after he and his longtime partner, John Arthur, who was dying, flew to Maryland and were wed in a plane on a tarmac because the Cincinnati-area couple couldn't do so legally in Ohio. Arthur died a few months later, and Obergefell's fight to be listed as spouse on the death certificate led to his role in the landmark 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage.In Ohio now, Obergefell's pitch for inclusion is running into a heated political environment. The primary election itself had to be split because of a contentious and protracted political mapmaking fight, with a federal panel of judges ultimately setting the date and imposing maps that a different court has declared unconstitutional. Legal battles continue.GOP mapmakers redrew the 89th House District that Obergefell is seeking in the face of his candidacy, and the district now leans nearly 57% Republican, according to Dave’s Redistricting App, a political mapmaking website. That should favor Swearingen in a state that former President Donald Trump twice won by wide margins and where Republicans control every branch of government.Obergefell appears to remain a threat, however. He is the best-known state legislative candidate on Ohio’s 2022 ballot and among its top legislative fundraisers so far, having outraised Swearingen more than 4 to 1, according to campaign finance reports.That’s in part because his popularity as a civil rights icon has drawn support from a host of deep-pocketed national progressive groups — including the LGBTQ Victory Fund, the Human Rights Campaign and Democracy for America — as well as in-state donors.Obergefell said he believes his party can reach moderate Republicans and independents with their message of inclusiveness if voters “see the Democratic Party being obvious, being clear, being direct on what they believe in and what they will fight to protect and support.”But Swearingen said district voters he’s spoken to are not focused on social issues, but on pocketbook ones.“What I continue to hear from people is gas, groceries, feeding their families — very kitchen table issues that are very relevant and important to them. They’re immediately in front of them,” he said. “The social issues do not appear to be very high on the list.”That’s not the case for Darlene Walk, a Sandusky native and vice president of the Democratic Women of Erie County. She said she plans to vote for Obergefell and is encouraging friends of all partisan persuasions to do the same.“We’re ready for a change, and you have to accept people as they are, where they are and what they do and what they stand for,” she said. “And he stands for progress.” | Civil Rights Activism |
TAMPA, Florida — A pair of parent activists who founded a national grassroots parent organization say the emergence and growth of parent activism in schools is in no small way an answer to the influence of teachers unions
. Tiffany Justice and Tina Descovich, former school board members who are two mothers of school-age children, founded the parent activist organization Moms for Liberty at the end of 2020 as a nationwide outrage over school closures was proving to be the catalyst for a national movement of parent activism. AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS CONVENTION PROMOTES CRT, ABORTION, AND GREEN ENERGY In an interview with the Washington Examiner at Moms for Liberty's first national summit in Tampa, Justice and Descovich said the movement had given parents a voice in school district political landscapes often dominated by teachers unions. "America got to see during COVID the control that the unions really do have in our schools," Justice said. "They kept schools locked down, they made ... in some of the districts, wild demands to reopen that really showed that the unions are political activist groups. They're not there to represent the teachers, and they're certainly not there to represent the children." A year and a half after Descovich and Justice first founded Moms for Liberty, the organization boasts more than 200 local county chapters in 38 states, with more than 100,000 members. Providing a noteworthy juxtaposition, Moms for Liberty's first annual summit comes on the same weekend that the American Federation of Teachers
, the nation's second largest teachers union, is holding its annual convention. The union has planned votes on numerous resolutions that have raised eyebrows due to their limited or at times nonexistent connection to schools and teaching, including multiple resolutions condemning the Supreme Court for overturning Roe v. Wade last month, a resolution vowing to support Ukraine, and another condemning the U.S. embargo of Cuba. Earlier this month, calls for mandatory masking and vaccinations for students in public schools were among the resolutions debated at the annual meeting of the nation's largest teachers union, the National Education Association
. In contrast, at the Moms for Liberty summit, almost every session is specifically geared toward education policy and district-level activism. Included on the agenda are presentations and speeches on student and parent legal rights, how to run for school board effectively, vetting school board candidates for local chapter endorsements, and how to keep schools safe. The dichotomy of the two events was not lost on Justice, who said it was a "wonderful side-by-side." "We're giving tools — we're putting tools in the toolbox of these parents so they can better understand what's happening in their children's education," she said. "what we're trying to do is empower parents with information. And we're very focused on the issues of parental rights and education and children." "We have a flowchart diagram for all of our members," Descovich added. "Is it parental rights? Yes, you can address it. Is it education? Yes, you can address it. Is it anything else? No, you don't. We stay laser [focused]." It's a contrast that the Moms for Liberty co-founder says is front and center because the unions "have lost their mission." "Because they lost their mission, students are suffering. And it's unacceptable and parents are upset about it," Descovich said. "It's one of the reasons Moms for Liberty has been so successful — it's because we are focused on getting a better education for these children." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER And for elected officials that positively engage teachers unions, Justice had a clear message.
"2022 is the year of the parent and elected officials. If you're running for office, if you are an incumbent, you need to be listening to parents," she said. "Parents are concerned about the future of America, and we're here to help. We will partner with our children's schools, but we do not co-parent with the government. ... It's time to reach out and draw the boundary lines between school and home." | Civil Rights Activism |
The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday, eliminating constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place for 50 years.
Watch the special report in the player above. PBS NewsHour anchor and managing editor Judy Woodruff anchored a special report on the impact of this legal and cultural change.
The End of Roe: A PBS NewsHour Special Report looks at the division on the court, the anti-abortion activism that led to today’s decision, the next steps as the battle over abortion access shifts to the states, and looks back at the history of pre-Roe America and what will come next.
READ MORE: What is Roe v. Wade?
Following the special report, Washington Week moderator Yamiche Alcindor hosted a special edition of Washington Week focused entirely on the Roe decision and its political fallout.
The ruling came more than a month after the stunning leak of a draft opinion by Alito indicating the court was prepared to take this momentous step.
It puts the court at odds with a majority of Americans who favored preserving Roe, according to opinion polls.
Alito, in the final opinion issued Friday, wrote that Roe v. Wade, that was decided in 1973 and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the 1992 decision that reaffirmed the right to abortion, were wrong and must be overturned. | Civil Rights Activism |
Heather Booth was just 18 years old when she joined the civil rights movement. A member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), decades later Booth now says she knew early on that "sometimes you have to stand up to illegitimate authority."For many activists, the civil rights movement spawned other demonstrations like the women's movement, of which many were organizing on different fronts for liberations such as pay equity, childcare and reproductive rights."You have to get a sense of that time period," Fran Beal told ABC News. As an early college student, Beal was a founding member of the SNCC Black Women's Liberation Committee, which would later be recognized as the Third World Women's Alliance. Beal says reproductive rights became a personal priority after hearing her close friend Cordelia died from a back-alley abortion in November 1958.Later on, Beal would have her own near-death experience after receiving an illegal abortion in the late 1950s. "I ended up on a woman's kitchen table and later in the hospital because I had started to bleed so badly. If I hadn't gone to the hospital, I would have died," Beal said.Frances Beal, July 7, 1970, in New York.Howard PetrickAs an organizer, activist and author, Beal later published "Double Jeopardy: To Be Black and Female," exploring the misconceptions of Black women in the U.S. during the 1960s and '70s, fearing that poor women of color were bearing the brunt of illegal abortions in America."We didn't talk about sexual things during that time," Beal said."Speaking about abortion with three or more people was a conspiracy to commit a felony," Booth added.Heather Booth pushing one of her kids in a stroller at the Chicago Women's Liberation Union in about 1970.Chicago Women's Liberation Union Herstory ProjectAs a Chicago college student, Booth found herself assisting a friend's sister in getting an illegal abortion. After soon learning the process, Booth founded Jane Collective, an underground abortion service. At least 100 women counseled and later performed safe underground abortions to nearly 11,000 women before the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973."It wasn't legal then. We need to keep this safe, legal and accessible for all," Booth said.Now, nearly 50 years later, with the Supreme Court's decision looming, former activists such as Beal, now 82, and Booth, now 76, say by using their progress as the blueprint, the fight is up to the next generation.People attend an abortion rights rally against the Hyde Amendment, in Boston, 1977.Spencer Grant/Getty ImagesIn early May, a 98-page Supreme Court draft opinion, leaked to Politico, appearing to show a majority of justices ready to overturn Roe v. Wade -- the landmark decision that has protected a woman's right to abortion for nearly five decades."We have women who have not known the right to have an abortion as a part of a reproductive rights agenda," Beal said. "The very fact that it could be overthrown altogether was not something I think was in the forefront of most people's minds. Even activists like myself would follow this pretty closely."Birmingham, Alabama, native Diane Derzis shared that she, too, underwent an abortion procedure. "I thank God every day, I was able to do so safely. And that's what started me on this journey," Derzis told ABC News. "I was able to do what I knew was right for me, and there's never been a moment of regret."Derzis owns and operates abortion clinics across the South, including Jackson Women's Health Clinic -- the lone abortion clinic in Mississippi. The clinic is also at the epicenter of the Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health, which could potentially overturn Roe.Women's liberation groups march down Fifth Avenue and will end with the rally at Bryant Park in New York, Aug. 26, 1970.Bettmann Archive via Getty ImagesFollowing the Roe v. Wade decision, which allowed safe and legal access to abortion across all states, Derzis said she's faced threats over the past 40 years for "following her journey," including in 1998, when she received an alarming call and learned that her first clinic in Birmingham had been bombed."It's been extremely depressing, but that's also been part of the fight. And that's what's made us strong and made these clinics last as long as they have," she said.But Derzis has vowed not to be pushed out. While she prepares to close Jackson Women's Health Organization, Derzis said she is working to open clinics in new areas such as New Mexico."They're not going to win. After all these years of fighting, we'll continue to keep fighting."In front of the Atlas sculpture at Rockefeller Center, activists hold a series of signs that read 'Legalize Abortion' during a demonstration in New York, March 1968.Bev Grant/Getty Images"For 50 years now, women have had this right; make space to take up the struggle," Beal added. "If you don't take up the struggle, you're leaving it for other generations to take up." | Civil Rights Activism |
These booking images provided by the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office show the 31 members of the white supremacist group Patriot Front who were arrested after they were found packed into the back of a U-Haul truck with riot gear near an LGBTQ pride event in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on Saturday, June 11, 2022. (Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office via AP)Extremely online neo-Nazis are big mad at the cops for figuratively and literally unmasking 31 members of the white supremacist group Patriot Front this weekend in Idaho.For many in the neo-Nazi and extreme-right communities, few punishments carry as much weight as being identified and held accountable for their online activities and racist activism. So many took it as an attack when cops arrested 31 members of Patriot Front, a group of khaki-clad white supremacists known for their propaganda videos, from the back of a U-Haul truck in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The men had come from over 11 separate states with a smoke bomb and shields to crash an LGBTQ Pride event. No firearms were found on the men or in the U-Haul. Members of the group, who typically obscure their identities with white face coverings, were arrested on charges of criminal conspiracy, a misdemeanor, and had their masks pulled off before being loaded into a police car. Later the members’ names and mugshots were also released in public documents. Among those arrested and charged was Thomas Rousseau, the group's founder and leader.Since then, activists and journalists have been scouring leaked chats and videos to connect the men with their racist and anti-LGBTQ activities. Now, some are attempting to dox the local police officers in Coeur d'Alene and are urging others to help in the effort, as first reported by Nick Martin of the Informant.“An attack on one member of the white race is an attack on us all. I'm not going to tolerate it. I'm going to find out who those officers are,” one outraged Patriot Front fan said in a video posted on Gab, “and I'm going to dox every single one of them.” “Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. You'll be hearing from me soon. Fuck you,” he continued. The video was shared within a network of neo-Nazi activists who all praised the man and said they would aid in the effort.“Pigs pissed off the exact demographic you DON'T actually want mad at you,” one of them wrote. “These people have names,” another wrote. Hating the police is pretty common among the extreme-right who typically considers traditional authority a barrier to their goals. In a press conference Monday morning, Coeur d'Alene Police Chief Lee White said that he and his fellow officers were being “screamed and yelled at” by anonymous people calling. Some officers were even getting death threats from as far away as Norway, according to Lee. On Telegram, several neo-Nazi and white supremacist accounts shared addresses and phone numbers they’ve found online associated with Coeur d'Alene police officers. A few have posted about how they’ve called the numbers and found them disconnected. Police officer numbers and addresses are typically unlisted for this very reason. What is listed online, however, are the phone numbers and addresses of the police stations where the officers are based. Other accounts on Telegram have posted that they’re giving the police and sheriff's offices bad reviews online and calling and leaving rude messages. “I just left the police chief a scathing voice mail in Idaho for arresting Patriot Front,” one Nazi wrote. One well-known neo-Nazi terror group that has had former members arrested by the FBI for myriad crimes also posted in favor of attempting to release the names of the police officers. “Our enemies have names, addresses, and loved ones too. We have no moral obligation to subject them to equal retribution for their crimes,” reads a statement they released. “They deserve to be tortured and humiliated in the most egregious fashion possible.”The group, however, has a spotty record of being able to conduct proper research of who they’re targeting and once accidentally staged a propaganda photo at the wrong home. While conducting other research on the Patriot Front arrests this weekend, extremely online members of the extreme-right also found that the Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris’ work biography says he once trained with Mossad in the early 2000s following 911. This, of course, makes Norris a “Mossad asset” and the arrests, a part of an elaborate Israeli-planned operation to target the Patriot Front, according to multiple online racists.“How many other TRAITORS to the United States have been trained and paid by Israeli intelligence to deprive Americans of their rights here at home?” one white nationalist writer wrote. “This is the most pressing foreign policy issue of our times.” Patriot Front was born in 2017 after splintering off from the neo-Nazi group Vanguard America in the wake of the deadly Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. The group publicly attempts to eschew outright racism in favor of a focus on nationalism. A recent leak, however, shows the group is rife with white supremacy and its members have a fascination with neo-Nazism as well as shaming fellow members for their porn and junk-food habits. Patriot Front has long worked as a recruitment funnel for harder and more openly violent neo-Nazi groups. The group regularly organizes flash counter-protests meant to create propaganda videos and puts up posters and stickers. The Anti-Defamation League found in 2021 that the group was responsible for a sizable portion of white supremacist propaganda posted publicly in the United States. The embrace of Patriot Front hasn’t extended to all avenues of the far-right. Those who exist in a more conspiratorial corner of the far-right, unsurprisingly, have begun to weave elaborate stories in which the Patriot Front is a "honey pot”, the members are mostly are federal agents (a conspiracy that’s been around for some time and endorsed by the likes of Joe Rogan) and that the arrests were a plot to discredit the other activists. Accusations of the men who were arrested being cops themselves left many in the neo-Nazi and white supremacist sphere of the extreme-right rather agitated. “Brave young men take enormous risks, expense, self-sacrifice and what do conservatives do,” one wrote indigently. “STAB THEM IN THE BACK.” Coeur d'Alene Police Chief Lee White also seemed to be a little annoyed by the conspiracy when a “concerned citizen” asked him about it at the Monday press conference. “Let me be very clear here: These were not law enforcement officers that we arrested,'' he said. “These were members of the hate group Patriot Front. These were not antifa in disguise, nor were they FBI members in disguise."Want the best of VICE News straight to your inbox? Sign up here.Get the latest from VICE News in your inbox. Sign up right here.By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Vice Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content. | Civil Rights Activism |
Dark clouds are gathering over Old Lick Cemetery on a cold April morning. The tiny parcel of wooded land in Roanoke, Virginia, just north of downtown, is the burial ground for hundreds of Black people. It's enclosed by a chain-link fence on a thin strip of land wedged between the interstate highway and a busy main road, and marked by a deteriorating, hand-carved wooden sign, a silent reminder that this cemetery used to be bigger. When Virginia wanted to build I-581 in 1961, the highway took priority. Most of the cemetery was unearthed and its occupants shifted to this tiny spot.Hundreds of gravestones are scattered haphazardly, some as grave markers and some strewn unceremoniously in piles."They excavated 960-something people and transferred them. And unfortunately, they did not take the time to identify those bodies," says Trish White-Boyd, the vice mayor of Roanoke. "Just horrifying."The cemetery's disturbing story would likely remain a footnote in the city's history were it not for a project called Hidden in Plain Site, the brainchild of creative agency BrownBaylor. It's designed to resurface the lost narrative of marginalized Black people across the US with experiences you can view through a browser or virtual reality headset. HiPS represents one of the more novel uses of virtual reality, which has largely been used for gaming, entertainment and, increasingly, social media. It's helping researchers bring the secret history of places like this to life. Given the breadth of locations that have seen their history sanitized or forgotten, there's a wide opportunity for HiPS to make a bigger impact around the country. "We've had total communities disrupted and destroyed because of interstates," says Dontrese Brown, CEO and founder of BrownBaylor. "The most impactful thing is these narratives are 100% all across our country. And you can align that with any historically underrepresented group."Creating a virtual tour for communitiesA flourishing Black community that included the only school to hire Black teachers was "erased so thoroughly that even the street grid was warped." HiPS HiPS was born from a discussion that took place just days after the murder of George Floyd.Brown was already working in partnership with Dean Browell, executive vice president of software company Feedback, and David Waltenbaugh, CEO and founder of Root VR, on a virtual reality tour of their hometown of Richmond, Virginia. The Black Lives Matter movement offered the trio a direction beyond the "admittedly vanilla" tour of the city they had initially planned. "The real dream of exactly what this could be took flight," Browell says.Their virtual tour of Richmond kicks off with Devil's Half Acre and Lumpkin's Jail, where enslaved people were bought and sold and freedom fighters were hanged. The tour emphasizes how these stories have been buried, with the site now an empty field next to a parking lot by the interstate.It's not only the history of slavery that's been hidden away. Empowering Black stories have also been concealed by razing buildings and entire neighborhoods.There's a parking lot where Thalhimers department store used to stand, where the Richmond 34 participated in a sit-in protest during the civil rights movement to help desegregate Richmond. And yet another parking lot that used to be a flourishing Black community that included the only school to hire Black teachers. It was "erased so thoroughly that even the street grid was warped to fit the new status quo," Brown says in the HiPS voiceover tour.Each project begins with capturing 360-degree photography and video of a site, which are combined with archival photos to show what a place used to look like. In cases where there are no images, they use illustrations and 3D renderings. These are all stitched together in an interactive tour by Waltenbaugh's virtual reality company using the Unity gaming software -- the same used for games like Pokemon Go and Cuphead -- for people to "see" what the city looked like in centuries past through a VR headset from wherever you are.To make the experience as accessible as possible, it's also freely available as a desktop tour that operates similarly to Google Street View, with narration and navigation."Our goal is to create experiences that use some of the rules that are informed by what VR technology offers in its immersion, but are accessible in a broader way," Waltenbaugh says.Virginia Museum of Fine Arts embraces its rootsSegregated theater bathrooms marked on VMFA blueprints, ca. 1950-54. VMFA/HiPS A new Hidden in Plain Site showcase went live in May at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. A smaller variant of their Richmond tour, HiPS: VMFA tells the story of the museum's history: The museum was built in 1936 on land that used to be worked by enslaved people."That was way before the museum existed, but we want to honor that space and that experience," says Celeste Fetta, director of education at VMFA. The showcase goes into the museum's history of segregation. Parts of the building, like the bathrooms and theater, were segregated in the 1950s, but the museum has also been home to a fellowship program since the 1940s -- and within the first few years awarded a fellowship to a Black artist. A part of the museum's new interactive gallery, A Closer Look, the HiPS showcase lives on touchscreen displays in the museum and will involve VR headsets for special events. HiPS: VMFA is also available on the museum's website for anyone who wants to view the showcase. VMFA and HiPS worked with a Black community advisory group to ensure they were "telling the whole story right and elevating voices that have been marginalized in the past," Fetta says.Six works of art, including works by contemporary Black artists and Native American artists, are also displayed in the showcase. Visitors are prompted to dive deeper into the stories being told, and to examine which have been hidden and which have been elevated -- and how we can change that."Art's a great tool to introduce conversation," Fetta says. "You start with the visual and then you understand context, and it opens the door to having difficult conversations. And that's OK -- you have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable before you can move past that and have this conversation to affect change."Roanoke embraces its rootsOld Lick Cemetery, Roanoke David Waltenbaugh With Richmond done, BrownBaylor turned to Roanoke. Just five minutes down that interstate from Old Lick Cemetery is Blue Ridge Behavioral Health, formerly Burrell Hospital, the first Black hospital in the city."That's where all the Black people would go for services or medical attention -- that's the only place they were allowed to go here in Roanoke," White-Boyd says.As part of the HiPS project, the history of Burrell Hospital will be used as a learning module for med students so they understand the history of marginalized people and health care. When first-year students arrive, they will be required as part of orientation to watch the HiPS project either via computer or on VR headsets in the school's library.Dr. Dave Trinkle, associate dean of Community and Culture for Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, became involved in the HiPS project as a result of the university's equity and inclusion taskforce. "We hope not just to impart the history of Roanoke, but impart the importance of understanding the history of any community that they end up in," says Trinkle, who used to serve on the Roanoke City Council. Trinkle pushed for sites centered on health care -- like Burrell Hospital and the story of Roanoke local Henrietta Lacks, whose HeLa cells are still used to study the effects of viruses, hormones, drugs, radiation, poisons and toxins, and helped develop the polio and COVID-19 vaccines. Roanoke wants to build a statue recognizing Lacks' contribution to modern medicine, with HiPS to include her in its experience. "It is an amazing story," White-Boyd says. "Those cells are still multiplying. She is immortal." Other Roanoke sites being explored by HiPS include the city's Burglund Center for performing arts, the construction of which razed an entire Black neighborhood; Dreamland, a recreational space that Black residents could use instead of having to visit segregated pools and dance halls, and which later became a city dump; and the Henry Street historically Black neighborhood that was removed and has now been partially gentrified. "That whole community is gone now," White-Boyd says. "It was in the name of 'progress.'"Expansion of HiPS across the nationThalhimers department store, where the Richmond 34 participated in a sit-in protest during the civil rights movement to help desegregate Richmond, is now a parking lot. HiPS HiPS isn't stopping in Virginia. The history of the US is infused with stories of repression, neglect and erasure."It's not just indicative of Roanoke or Richmond," White-Boyd says. "It's probably where you live, all over the United States."The goal when starting HiPS was to create a prototype to uncover and lift up voices in historically underrepresented communities seen as expendable when it came to expanding a downtown area, or building an interstate or a new parking lot. "We exist to use technology to change the future of cultural education, providing a platform for every historically underrepresented group to tell their stories and their narrative," Brown says. The Roanoke project comes amid a complex political minefield, including a discussion of critical race theory, a concept that's taught at the university level about how systematic racism pervades society, but that's been caught up in a debate over whether younger students are taught these ideas.Given the subject matter that HiPS deals with, Brown, Waltenbaugh and Browell are eyeing the potential impact the debate may have over its ability to expand. "It's a pretty aggressive tactic for clamping down on unsavory information -- and who gets to decide what that information is?" Waltenbaugh says. "It'll be interesting to see if we run into any issues."States like Florida have introduced bills prohibiting public schools and even private businesses from making people "feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress" when teaching children or training workers about discrimination.But being uncomfortable is part of learning about America's racial history.HiPS will probably run into issues with the governor, Brown says. "It's just a matter of time as we continue to push this forward … We don't ask for permission. We'll go out and we'll get it done. We're happy to stand up and talk about this because these are narratives and stories that need to be told."One of the main goals of HiPS is enlightening people and developing empathy. The immersive nature puts the viewer into the shoes of the Black American experience, Brown says, but in a "safe space" like their own homes -- giving them the ability to talk about certain things."Non-brown and Black people have a hesitation on having conversations around the topic of slavery, social injustice, those things, but what this project provides is an opportunity for them to consume this content, understand this content and then be able to go out and talk about it from an empathetic standpoint," Brown says. HiPS has spoken to people who have viewed their Richmond project, and emerged with an understanding of how they can talk about history and collaborate better within their own lives and communities to move in the direction of equality. Many of the viewers have come away in tears, Browell says."We've had a conversation a ton of times where folks just had no idea about all of this, but now understand when the topics of slavery and social injustice come up," Brown says. "They now feel better about talking about these things, because they have a better context and understanding of what went on because of Hidden in Plain Site." | Civil Rights Activism |
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! JERUSALEM, Israel – The Islamic Republic of Iran sentenced two Iranian women to death for their LGBTQ activism, promoting Christianity and contact with media opposed to the clerical regime in Tehran.According to a Sunday report on the website of the Norwegian-based Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, "Zahra Sediqi Hamedani, known as ‘Sareh,’ 31, from Naqadeh, and Elham Chubdar, 24, from Urmia were sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of Urmia in a joint case on the charge of ‘Corruption on Earth’ through the promoting homosexuality."Urmia is a city in West Azerbaijan Province of Iran where Hengaw monitors human rights violations. Hengaw also said the two women were convicted of "promoting Christianity" and "communicating with the media opposing the Islamic Republic."CALIFORNIA MAN FACES EXECUTION IN IRAN FOR BEING A JOURNALISTA day after the Hengaw report, the Iran state-controlled Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported the sentences imposed on the two women. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps — a U.S.-designated terrorist entity — accused the women of "promoting homosexuality, gambling, fraud, and promoting illicit sexual relations and publishing them on the Internet."The IRNA report said the two women "misused" women and girls with respect to employment opportunities outside the Islamic Republic of Iran. The charge of "misuse" is related to an allegation of human trafficking leveled against the women last year.The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) arrested Zahra in November and, according to the pro-Iran regime Tasnim News Agency, individuals were detained on charges of "forming a gang for trafficking girls and supporting homosexuality."According to an IRGC statement at the time, one of the charges against the vague "trafficking network" was "communicating and supporting homosexual groups" who "operated under the auspices of the trans-regional intelligence services."IRAN REGIME LEADERS ACCUSED OF MASS MURDER IN 2019 PROTESTSThe Islamic Republic of Iran punishes same-sex relations with the death penalty. According to a 2008 British WikiLeaks cable, Iran’s regime has executed 4,000-6000 gays and lesbians since the country’s 1979 Islamic revolution.The 6G Iranian and Lesbian and Transgender Network reported in December that Zahra lived and worked in Iraqi Kurdistan. Iraqi Kurdistan police arrested her after she gave an interview to BBC Persian about the jihadists in Iraq. She was incarcerated for 21 days in Iraq.6G said Zahra sought to flee to Turkey to save herself and released a video in the event of her imprisonment. 6G posted a video on its website of her. The Persian word for 6G is Shesh rang and embodies the six colors of the LGBTQ+ flag. An Iranian court has reportedly sentenced two women to death. The regime sentenced them for LGBTQ activism, promoting Christianity and contact with media opposed to the clerical regime in Tehran. ‘CATASTROPHIC’ IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL COULD LIFT SANCTIONS ON KILLERS OF US MARINES IN LEBANONZahra said on the video, "Today, I arrived in Iran. The regime found out that I'm here via my friends. Any time I can be arrested. My life is in danger. I try to get out of Iran, I don't know if I can make it or not."The Iran scholar Alireza Nader told Fox News Digital, "The Biden administration claims it cares about global LGBT issues but has remained silent on the persecution of these two LGBT activists in Iran. How can anyone take Biden seriously when he’s silent on the persecution of LGBT Iranians by the regime?" He added, "The U.S. should condemn their persecution loudly and make human rights a cornerstone of its Iran policy. But words aren’t enough. The Biden administration should take real action, including pressuring the regime by imposing additional sanctions on Iranian officials and institutions of repression. Sadly, Biden is seeking to lift sanctions on the regime."Deputy State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel was asked about the case during Monday's briefing, and he said that he was aware of reports on the sentencing of the two LGBTQ activists, telling reporters, "The U.S. firmly opposes all human rights abuses against LGBTQI+ persons, and it urges governments to repeal laws that criminalize individuals on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and sex characteristics." He added that he had no further details regarding the specifics of the case. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe Iranian-American journalist and women’s rights activist Masih Alijenad tweeted, "Detained LGBT+ rights advocate Zahra Sedighi-Hamedani sentenced to death in Iran for. Yes in 21st century being homosexual is a punishable crime in Iran and now she and Elham Chobdar are sentenced to be executed. This act of terror must be condemned by the world. Be their voice." Benjamin Weinthal reports on Middle East affairs. You can follow Benjamin Weinthal on Twitter @BenWeinthal. | Civil Rights Activism |
President Joe Biden on Thursday awarded 17 individuals with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor."On Monday, we celebrated the independence of our nation, a nation always a work in progress in creation of possibilities, the fulfillment of promises. That's the American story," Biden said as he opened the ceremony."We see an extraordinary, extraordinary group of Americans up here on the stage," Biden continued.Household names to receive the award included Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, actor Denzel Washington and soccer star Megan Rapinoe.Biden celebrated Biles, who has won 32 medals at the world stage, as the "youngest person ever to receive the Medal of Freedom.""Today, she adds to her medal count," Biden quipped. "I don't know how you're going to find room."President Joe Biden presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Simone Biles, Olympic gold medal gymnast and mental health advocate, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, July 7, 2022, in Washington, D.C.Alex Wong/Getty ImagesBiden listed the achievements of all the recipients, which include Alan Simpson, a former U.S. senator from Wyoming; Sister Simone Campbell, a member of Sisters of Social Service; Fred Gray, a distinguished civil rights attorney; Diane Nash, a founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee; and Raúl Yzaguirre, who served as CEO and president of National Council of La Raza for 30 years.Other medal recipients are Wilma Vaught, one of the most decorated women in U.S. military history; Sandra Lindsay, a nurse who was the first American to receive the COVID-19 vaccine; Khizr Khan, the father of U.S. Army captain who was killed in Iraq; Father Alexander Karloutsos, a priest who advised several U.S. presidents; and Dr. Julieta García, who was the first Hispanic woman to serve as a college president.Gabby Giffords, a leading voice for gun control after surviving a mass shooting in 2011, also received an award.Biden said they will soon "celebrate the most significant gun safety law in 30 years because of them and because of families like theirs all across America" -- referencing the recently passed Bipartisan Safer Communities Act."Gabby is one of the most courageous people I have ever known," the president said.Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and former Sen. John McCain were given the honor posthumously, as was former AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka.Biden and McCain became friends during their time in the Senate. McCain, a Purple Heart recipient and prisoner of war in Vietnam, served Arizona in Congress for decades before succumbing to glioblastoma in 2018."We agreed on a lot more than we disagreed on," Biden reminisced on Thursday."I never stopped admiring John," Biden continued. "I never said a negative thing about him in my life because I knew his honor, his courage and his commitment. That was John McCain."Cindy McCain was on stage to accept the award on behalf of her late husband.Gymnast Simone Biles, actor Denzel Washington, former Democratic Rep. Gabby Giffords, soccer player Megan Rapinoe, Goldstar father Khizr Khan, Apple CEO Steve Jobs, Sen. John McCain, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka are among 17 designated by US President Joe Biden on July 1, 2022,to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images, FILELaurene Powell-Jobs accepted her late husband's award and Richard Trumka Jr. accepted the award on behalf of his father.Not in attendance was Washington, one of the 17 recipients. A White House official said Washington was unable to partake in the ceremony because of a COVID-19 result.Biden hailed Washington as "one of the greatest actors in American history" and said he will give him the award at a later date.The White House said approximately 250 were in attendance at the ceremony, which was held in the East Room of the White House. Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff were there, as well as several members of the president's cabinet.Spotted at the ceremony were Hunter Biden and his wife Melissa Cohen. Several members of Congress were also in the room, including Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.Biden is the first president to give out these medals after receiving one himself in 2017, while he was serving as vice president. Former President Barack Obama awarded Biden for his "lifetime of service that will endure through the generations.""This is America," Biden said as the ceremony concluded. | Civil Rights Activism |
'People will die because of this decision,' says Ocasio-CortezAntonio Planas2m ago / 5:07 PM UTCRep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said Friday the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade will make abortions more dangerous and result in deaths.“Overturning Roe and outlawing abortions will never make them go away. It only makes them more dangerous, especially for the poor + marginalized," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. "People will die because of this decision. And we will never stop until abortion rights are restored in the United States of America.”Anti-abortion Democratic Rep. Cuellar says Roe decision leaves issues up to the statesTexas Rep. Henry Cuellar, the lone anti-abortion Democrat in the House, said Friday his position has not changed."We'll let the states make this decision now," he said. Asked by NBC News about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's reaction to the Supreme Court's decision, which she said was "cruel," Cuellar said, "Everybody has their opinion, including the speaker."Cuellar said that while he was in the minority in his caucus, he is not in his district.WHO’s Tedros disappointed by Roe v. Wade decisionReuters10m ago / 4:59 PM UTCThe head of the World Health Organization said on Friday he was very disappointed by the overturning of Roe v Wade.“I am very disappointed, because women’s rights must be protected. And I would have expected America to protect such rights,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told Reuters on the sidelines of a Commonwealth summit in Rwanda.Sanders says it is time to end the Senate filibusterTat Bellamy-Walker12m ago / 4:57 PM UTCSen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., called on Democrats to end the filibuster in the Senate and solidify protections for abortion rights. "Overturning Roe v. Wade and denying women the right to control their own bodies is an outrage and in defiance of what the American people want," Sen. Sanders wrote in a tweet Friday. "Democrats must now end the filibuster in the Senate, codify Roe v. Wade, and once again make abortion legal and safe." Biden says Roe is 'on the ballot' in NovemberIn remarks from the White House on Friday, President Joe Biden said that "voters need to make their voices heard" at the ballot box in November's midterm elections because he is unable to restore abortion protections and Congress lacks the votes to take that action. "We need to restore the protections of Roe as law of the land. We need to elect officials who will do that. This fall, Roe is on the ballot," Biden said. Until November, Biden said he will do everything in his power to protect a woman's right to choose in states where they will face the consequences of the court's decision. He said, for example, that his administration will protect women's access to medications that allow them to self-manage an abortion at home. He acknowledged that a number of Republican-controlled states have already banned or restricted access to these medications. Biden expressed anger at the Supreme Court's ruling, saying that "the court has done what it has never done before — expressly take away a constitutional right." "This decision, the conservative majority of the Supreme Court shows how extreme it is — far removed they are from the majority of this country," he said. "You can act. You can have the final word."He blamed his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, for the reversal of Roe because of his nomination of three justices at the "core of today's decision." Plaintiff in same-sex marriage Supreme Court case says decision is moving country 'backward'Christopher Cicchiello15m ago / 4:54 PM UTCJim Obergefell, the plaintiff in the landmark Supreme Court decision Obergefell v. Hodges that established the right to same-sex marriages across the nation, called today's verdict "a sad day for women's rights.""This Supreme Court continues to erode the rights of citizens at an alarming rate," Obergefell said in a tweet. "Women deserve responsive leaders who support reproductive justice. Leaders who respect their fundamental right to have control over their own bodies."In a separate statement reacting to Justice Clarence Thomas’ call to reconsider the holding in Obergefell v. Hodges in his concurring opinion, Obergefell said that "the millions of loving couples who have the right to marriage equality to form their own families do not need Clarence Thomas imposing his individual twisted morality upon them."U.S. Capitol public tours halted after Roe decision Public tours of the U.S. Capitol were abruptly halted Friday after the Supreme Court's ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, allowing Capitol Police to shift some of their resources to the court complex, a source familiar with the decision said.Capitol Police were also concerned about members of the public lining up at the entrance of the Capitol Visitors Center (CVC), which is close to where thousands of protesters were assembling in front of the court building."It's because of the CVC entrance's proximity to activity at SCOTUS and the general need to shift U.S. Capitol Police manpower to respond to SCOTUS activity," the source said.So far, the protests have been peaceful.Scotland's leader calls out Roe decisionScotland's leader on Friday warned that the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade would "embolden anti-abortion and anti-women forces" beyond the United States."One of the darkest days for women’s rights in my lifetime," Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said in a tweet. "Obviously the immediate consequences will be suffered by women in the US — but this will embolden anti-abortion & anti-women forces in other countries too. Solidarity doesn’t feel enough right now — but it is necessary."McCarthy praises court's decisionHouse Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy praised the decision of the court during a Friday press conference. "By a vote of 6-3, the court affirmed that the power to protect unborn life is returned to the people by their elected representatives," he said. "This great nation can now live up to its core principle that all people are created equal — not born equal, created equal."He added that the decision would "save the lives of millions of children" and "give families hope."Sharpton says court's decision brings us 'back to the dark ages' Tat Bellamy-Walker22m ago / 4:46 PM UTCThe Rev. Al Sharpton, the head of the National Action Network and an MSNBC host, said Friday that Black women and poor women will be disproportionately affected by the court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. British doctors union calls Roe decision 'deeply worrying'A senior official at the British Medical Association, the United Kingdom's doctors union, on Friday said the Supreme Court's decision overturning abortion rights could have an impact beyond the United States. “The news that restrictions to abortions could be made law in some U.S. states ... is deeply worrying for the future of women’s reproductive health," Zoe Greaves, chair of the group's medical ethics committee, said in a written statement. "The BMA, along with multiple other health organizations, is concerned that this will remove women’s access to essential medical care, a fundamental human right as stated by the U.N., both in the U.S. and potentially more widely," she said. The organization added in a statement that it would be weighing the decision's implications to determine how best to support the American Medical Association in its opposition to the "criminalization of reproductive health."First lady Jill Biden was with DeSantis when Roe decision came downJosh Lederman29m ago / 4:40 PM UTCFirst lady Jill Biden was with Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis when she learned of the Supreme Court ruling, a White House official told NBC News.The first lady was preparing to go onstage at the memorial for the one year anniversary of the Champlain Tower collapse in Surfside, Florida, along with DeSantis and his wife in a holding room. Moments before the first lady walked on stage, the news alerts popped up on everyone’s phones.In April, DeSantis signed a Florida law banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.Democratic governors in the West pledge to stand up for abortion rightsDemocratic governors in California, Oregon and Washington said Friday they will continue to "protect" patients seeking reproductive care, including those from other states seeking abortions.California's Gavin Newsom, Oregon's Kate Brown and Washington's Jay Inslee made the announcement in a video message released after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, presenting themselves as a counterweight to "red states and Republican-stacked courts.""California, Oregon and Washington are building the West Coast offense to protect patients' access to reproductive care," Newsom said.Inslee said: "We're going to work with our legislators, with our providers, with our patient advocates."Brown said: "We will not stand on the sidelines."'With sorrow...we dissent': Court's liberal wing says majority decided women not deserving of equal protectionIn a blistering dissent to the court's decision reversing abortion rights, the justices on the bench’s liberal wing slammed the majority opinion as one that would curtail women's rights.“It says that from the very moment of fertilization, a woman has no rights to speak of. A State can force her to bring a pregnancy to term, even at the steepest personal and familial costs,” Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan wrote in the lengthy dissent."With sorrow — for this Court, but more, for the many millions of American women who have today lost a fundamental constitutional protection — we dissent," they added.Read the full story here.Planned Parenthood Wisconsin temporarily suspends abortion servicesAntonio Planas33m ago / 4:35 PM UTCPlanned Parenthood Wisconsin announced Friday it was “temporarily suspending” abortion services in response to the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.In a video statement on the organization’s website, the group's president, Tanya Atkinson, lamented the Supreme Court’s decision because it has taken away a constitutional right from women and instead placed health care decisions in the hands of politicians.“Because Wisconsin’s criminal abortion ban remains in effect, Planned Parenthood Wisconsin is temporarily suspending abortion services,” she said. “Please know that we are looking at all legal options available. This news is so incredibly devastating. The decision of whether or not to become a parent can be one of the most life-changing decisions a person can make,” she said. “You should be able to make the very personal, very needed health care decisions.”Atkinson added that although abortion services are not available in Wisconsin, the organization is still there for people who need abortions and will counsel them on finding options where abortions are safe and legal. The group, she said, will also be available for “after-care” services. Other services provided by the organization are also available at its centers or through telehealth, she said.“Planned Parenthood Wisconsin stands for health care, and we will not give up, not now, not ever,” she said.Anger and joy outside Supreme CourtTears flowed and voices bellowed outside the Supreme Court early Friday, as activists on both sides of the abortion issue gathered to bear witness to the end of the Roe era. "It's really a visceral issue," said Mai El-Sadany, a human rights lawyer who opposes Friday's decision. "The people who showed up here are really angry and they didn’t want to be alone." Paige Nelson, 20, cried tears of joy on the street in front of the Supreme Court, where the grounds long used for demonstrations have been closed off for weeks as a security precaution."I’m just so happy that no matter who you are and whatever extra chromosomes or whatever disability you might have, you get the chance to live this amazing life, and I will continue advocating until abortion is completely gone," said Nelson, a Washington state resident who is participating in a summer program with the conservative Concerned Women of America.Canadian PM Justin Trudeau calls Roe decision 'horrific'Reuters38m ago / 4:30 PM UTCCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday called the Supreme Court decision "horrific."“The news coming out of the United States is horrific. My heart goes out to the millions of American women who are now set to lose their legal right to an abortion,” Trudeau said on Twitter.“No government, politician, or man should tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her body,” he said.GOP Sen. Mitt Romney says he supports Roe's reversalSen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, praised the Supreme Court's ruling Friday in a brief statement. "The sanctity of human life is a foundational American principle, and the lives of our children—both born and unborn—deserve our protection," Romney said. "I support the Court’s decision, which means that laws regarding abortion will now rightfully be returned to the people and their elected representatives," he added.AG Merrick Garland says states cannot ban access to medications for abortionsAttorney General Merrick Garland vowed to protect access to Mifepristone, which is used along with another medication to end early pregnancies.“In particular, the FDA has approved the use of the medication Mifepristone. States may not ban Mifepristone based on disagreement with the FDA’s expert judgment about its safety and efficacy," he wrote in a statement.The Food and Drug Administration approved in 2016 the use of the medications in terminating abortions.The "Department will continue to protect healthcare providers and individuals seeking reproductive health services in states where those services remain legal," his statement added. "This law prohibits anyone from obstructing access to reproductive health services through violence, threats of violence, or property damage."Decision a 'dark moment,' British rights group says The Supreme Court’s decision is a “dark moment for the struggle for women’s liberation and the fight to control our own bodies,” the chair of a British rights group said Friday. ‘This is a hugely significant set back for abortion rights. Not just in the U.S. but it will embolden anti-abortion activists here and in Poland, Malta and other places where the struggle for access is already desperate,” Kerry Abel of Abortion Rights said in a statement. “Any chink in the legislative armour that undermines the right to privacy, makes access more difficult or puts abortion funding out of reach will impact poorer and marginalised women and pregnantpeople and will encourage yet more anti-abortion legislation and action,” she said. “This is a dark moment for the struggle for women’s liberation and the fight to control our own bodies,” she added.Rep. Jamie Raskin knocks Thomas, says they are not 'like real judges at this point'Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., knocked Justice Clarence Thomas, saying he is trying to "demolish the constitutional right to privacy" while blasting the high court's justices as an "instrument of the right-wing Republican agenda." "Roe versus Wade was built on Griswold versus Connecticut, which asserted a constitutional right to privacy for women and men to obtain contraception and birth control," Raskin said Friday. "They might like to pretend as if this is some kind of singular strike against just women's right to abortion, but it has implications for contraception. It has implications for the right of gay people to get married under the Obergefell decision. It has implications for the right of people not to be sterilized by the government against their will."Raskin added that the justices are "not like real judges at this point." "I mean, they’ve got the power of it, but they basically have turned themselves into partisans," he said.Sen. Susan Collins calls ruling 'not conservative' Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who voted to confirm Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh who were part of Friday's majority opinion, said in a statement that the ruling was an "ill-considered action" and "not conservative." "The Supreme Court has abandoned a fifty-year precedent at a time that the country is desperate for stability. This ill-considered action will further divide the country at a moment when, more than ever in modern times, we need the Court to show both consistency and restraint," Collins said. "Throwing out a precedent overnight that the country has relied upon for half a century is not conservative. It is a sudden and radical jolt to the country that will lead to political chaos, anger, and a further loss of confidence in our government."Collins said that the ruling was "inconsistent" with what Gorsuch and Kavanaugh said in their congressional testimony and in meetings with her where, she said, "they both were insistent on the importance of supporting long-standing precedents that the country has relied upon."Collins said she is working on a bill with Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., that would codify Roe, Casey, Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, and Griswold v. Connecticut."Our legislation would enshrine important abortion protections into law without undercutting statutes that have been in place for decades and without eliminating basic conscience protections that are relied upon by health care providers who have religious objections to performing abortions," she said.U.K.'s Boris Johnson calls Roe decision 'a big step backward'British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday said the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade would have a "massive" impact around the world. “This is not our court, it’s another jurisdiction, but it clearly has massive impacts on people’s thinking around the world," he said during a press conference in Kigali, Rwanda. "It’s a very important decision." "I think it’s a big step backwards," Johnson, who leads the Conservative Party, added. "I’ve always believed in a woman’s right to choose and I stick to that view and that is why the U.K. has the laws that it does.”Missouri governor signs state proclamation banning most abortionsChristopher Cicchiello50m ago / 4:19 PM UTCMissouri Gov. Mike Parson signed a proclamation Friday to activate its trigger law, banning most abortions.“Nothing in the text, history, or tradition of the United States Constitution gave un-elected federal judges authority to regulate abortion. We are happy that the U.S. Supreme Court has corrected this error and returned power to the people and the states to make these decisions,” Parson, a Republican, said in a news release.This law makes it illegal for doctors to perform abortions and also makes anyone who knowingly induces an abortion guilty of a class B felony. Doctors can have their licenses revoked for their involvement. However, a woman who has an abortion will not be prosecuted "for a conspiracy to violate the provisions" of this act. No mention of an exception for a pregnancy resulting from rape or incest was provided in the act.Upon Parson’s signature, the act takes effect immediately.Texas GOP AG Ken Paxton says abortions are 'now illegal in Texas'Texas' GOP attorney general, Ken Paxton, announced Friday that abortion is now illegal in Texas as a result of the Supreme Court's ruling. "SCOTUS just overruled Roe & Casey, ending one of the most morally & legally corrupt eras in US history. Praise the Lord. Abortion is now illegal in Texas," he said in a tweet. Texas had on the books a trigger law, which immediately banned abortion once Roe came down.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, signed into law one of the country's most restrictive abortion bans last year, which took effect in September. It had banned abortions as early as six weeks, which effectively banned all abortions because most women don't know they're pregnant that early in the process. Whole Women's Health, an organization that has operated four clinics providing reproductive health services in Texas and other states, said it has stopped providing abortion procedures as a result of Friday's ruling, according to the Texas Tribune. In guidance posted on the organization's website Friday, it said that its clinics "are still operating in Baltimore, MD; Bloomington, MN; Alexandria, VA; and Charlottesville, VA." It also said that it offers medication abortion pills by mail to patients in Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico and Virginia.It also said Whole Women's Health "is exploring plans to expand both our in-clinic and mail services into additional states where abortion is legally protected."Democratic lawmakers march to Supreme Court in support of abortion rightsAt least 150 Democratic lawmakers marched to the Supreme Court on Friday to protest the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., told NBC News the decision marked "a sad day for American jurisprudence.""Never did I envision that this court would reverse 40 or 50 years of precedence, but they did it," he said. "And they did it in utter disregard for the 60% of the American people who support Roe and did not want it overturned."Conservative Hispanic group lauds court decisionBienvenido, a conservative Hispanic group, said the court's decision to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision was "correct as both a legal and a moral matter.""Today we join millions of Americans — including the majority of Hispanics who value human life — in celebrating the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling overturning 'Roe' and 'Casey,'" a statement from the group said. "It was always a lie that the Constitution guaranteed the right to kill unborn children and this Court has just exposed this lie for the shameful farce that it always has been," the statement continued. "As we commemorate this historic decision, let us remember these children who were denied the right to live, pray for forgiveness, and give thanks to God." According to Pew Research Center, 60% of Hispanics in 2022 said abortion should be legal. Transgender Law Center denounces Supreme Court decision as "despicable" Tat Bellamy-Walker1h ago / 3:51 PM UTCThe Transgender Law Center, one of the nation's largest transgender rights groups, slammed the court's decision, calling it "despicable" and a "politically-motivated" attack.In a statement, the organization stressed that the majority opinion will have an outsize impact on historically marginalized groups, including Black women, disabled people, migrant women, poor people and individuals living in rural communities.“Today we loudly affirm and pledge our solidarity with all people working for Reproductive Justice in this country,” the group's executive director, Kris Hayashi, said. “Whether it is a right to an abortion, the right to affirming medical care, or the right to learn about your own history in schools, our collective rights to self-determination and bodily autonomy are inexorably entwined.”'God made the decision': Trump praises the ruling overturning RoeFormer President Donald Trump praised the Supreme Court's ruling in a statement to Fox News on Friday, saying that it's "following the Constitution, and giving rights back when they should have been given long ago."Trump was asked if he played a role in the decision because he nominated three of the conservative justices who overturned Roe v. Wade — Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett."God made the decision," Trump told Fox. Asked to address any of his supporters who support abortion rights, Trump said, "I think, in the end, this is something that will work out for everybody ... This brings everything back to the states where it has always belonged."Trump had previously supported abortion rights years ago, telling NBC News' "Meet the Press" in 1999 that he was "very pro-choice" at the time.Susan B. Anthony List celebrates overturning of Roe v. WadeThe anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List celebrated news Friday of the Supreme Court overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, calling it a "historic victory for human rights." Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the group, said in a video message outside the Supreme Court that it was a moment of "great gratitude and resolve." "This Court has just overturned the wrongly decided Roe versus Wade decision. Let those words sink in," she said. "Roe versus Wade is overturned after 50 years of lobbying, building centers of hope to serve pregnant women, on our knees praying, off our knees marching and ensuring the powerful pro-life voice could be heard in our elections. We have arrived at this day, a culminating day of so much and the first day of a bright pro-life future for our nation."She said the decision allows the "will of the people to make its way into the law through our elected officials" and declared that "our best days are ahead."Attorney General Merrick Garland vows to 'use every tool' to protect abortion rightsAttorney General Merrick Garland, who as Barack Obama's 2016 Supreme Court nominee was denied a confirmation vote by then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, vowed to put the full weight of the Department of Justice behind protecting abortion rights."The Justice Department strongly disagrees with the Court’s decision," he said. "This decision deals a devastating blow to reproductive freedom in the United States. It will have an immediate and irreversible impact on the lives of people across the country. And it will be greatly disproportionate in its effect — with the greatest burdens felt by people of color and those of limited financial means."“The Justice Department will use every tool at our disposal to protect reproductive freedom. And we will not waver from this Department’s founding responsibility to protect the civil rights of all Americans," he added.Mayor Eric Adams says people around the country 'welcome' to access abortion care in New York City New York City Mayor Eric Adams lashed out at the Supreme Court on Friday, saying that "politics came before people at the highest court in the land." "What the court has done today ignores the opinions of the majority of Americans, as it helps states control women’s bodies, their choices, and their freedoms," the Democrat said in a statement, adding that the decision puts lives at risk."There is nothing to call this Supreme Court opinion but an affront to basic human rights and one that aims to shackle women and others in reproductive bondage."Adams sought to reassure New Yorkers, saying that they can still access safe, legal abortions in the city. He also said that people around the country seeking the procedure are "welcome here" to access those services.Massachusetts Gov. Baker signs executive order protecting abortion providersAntonio Planas1h ago / 3:39 PM UTCIn response to the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican who is not running for re-election, signed an executive order Friday protecting health care providers performing abortions from losing their licenses or receiving other discipline based on potential charges from out of state, he said in a statement.“Under the executive order, the Commonwealth will not cooperate with extradition requests from other states pursuing criminal charges against individuals who received, assisted with, or performed reproductive health services that are legal in Massachusetts,” the statement said.The order, he said, also prohibits any “Executive Department agencies” from assisting another state’s investigation into a person or entity for receiving or delivering reproductive health care services that are legal in Massachusetts.“This executive order will further preserve that right and protect reproductive health care providers who serve out of state residents. In light of the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v Wade, it is especially important to ensure that Massachusetts providers can continue to provide reproductive health care services without concern that the laws of other states may be used to interfere with those services or sanction them for providing services that are lawful in the Commonwealth,” Baker said.Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said: “We are proud of the Commonwealth’s history of ensuring access to reproductive health care, and will continue to do so, despite today’s ruling from the Supreme Court.”Michigan Gov. Whitmer says ruling means her state's 1931 law banning abortion takes effect Michigan's Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement Friday it was a "sad day for America" and that her state's "antiquated" 1931 law banning abortion without exceptions for rape or incest will take effect. The law also criminalizes doctors and nurses who provide reproductive care, she said. "For now, a Michigan court has put a temporary hold on the law, but that decision is not final and has already been challenged. The 1931 law would punish women and strip away their right to make decisions about their own bodies," Whitmer said. "I want every Michigander to know that I am more determined than ever to protect access to safe, legal abortion."She said she filed a lawsuit in April to urge her state's Supreme Court to determine whether the Michigan Constitution protects the right to an abortion. "We need to clarify that under Michigan law, access to abortion is not only legal, but constitutionally protected," she said. Barack Obama calls Roe v. Wade reversal an attack on millionsTat Bellamy-Walker2h ago / 3:33 PM UTCFormer President Barack Obama said the court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade targets the freedom of millions of Americans in the U.S. "Today, the Supreme Court not only reversed nearly 50 years of precedent, it relegated the most intensely personal decision someone can make to the whims of politicians and ideologues—attacking the essential freedoms of millions of Americans," he wrote in a tweet. He noted that states across the country have already passed bills restricting abortion rights, and pointed people who want to fight against these restrictions toward Planned Parenthood and the United State of Women.In a statement, former first lady Michelle Obama said she was "heartbroken for people around this country who just lost the fundamental right to make informed decisions about their own bodies."Recent NBC News poll showed a majority of people in U.S. didn't want Roe v. Wade overturnedA majority of people in the U.S. — 63 percent — said in a recent NBC News poll in May that they didn't believe Roe v. Wade should be overturned, compared to 30% of people who wanted the abortion rights ruling to be reversed.Additionally, a combined 60% of Americans across the country said abortion should be either always legal (37%) or legal most of the time (23%) — the highest share believing it should be legal on this question, which dates back to 2003. By party, 84 percent of Democrats and 63 percent of Independents want abortion to be legal, versus just 33 percent of Republicans. The poll was conducted after the draft opinion of Alito's Roe opinion leaked.NAACP calls decision 'egregious assault on basic human rights'NAACP General Counsel Janette McCarthy Wallace said in a statement Friday the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade as "marks a significant regression of our country.""As a legal professional, I am horrified by this decision. As a Black woman, I am outraged to my core," Wallace said. "There is no denying the fact that this is a direct attack on all women, and Black women stand to be disproportionately impacted by the court's egregious assault on basic human rights. We must all stand up to have our voices heard in order to protect our nation from the further degradation of civil rights protections we have worked so hard to secure."Separately, Portia White, the NAACP vice president of policy and legislative affairs, said: "This Supreme Court is turning back the clock to a dangerous era where basic constitutional rights only exist for a select few. They've stripped away our right to vote, and now women have lost their right to their own body. What’s next?"White added: "We cannot allow our future to rest in the hands of those determined to crush every bit of it. We need to fight back."Biden to address Supreme Court ruling in remarks at 12:30 p.m. ETPresident Joe Biden will address the Supreme Court's ruling in remarks at approximately 12:30 p.m. ET, according to the White House.The guidance said that Biden will deliver his response in the Cross Hall.Durbin announces Judiciary hearing to explore "grim reality of a post-Roe America"Christopher Cicchiello2h ago / 3:20 PM UTCSenate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing next month to "explore the grim reality of a post-Roe America."Durbin, who chairs the committee, made the announcement in a seri | Civil Rights Activism |
Abortion-rights activists gather in front of the Supreme Court in May 2022 ahead of the Dobbs decision. Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the constitutional right to abortion has far-reaching personal and political implications and may help decide the midterm elections in November 2022.That influence extends to young people’s election participation. People ages 18 to 29 have historically been less likely to vote than older adults. But in recent years, they have been spurred to organize and vote by major national controversies, like school shootings and police violence against Black people.As a researcher with more than 20 years of experience tracking youth voting and examining young people’s political views and engagement, I believe that the fight over abortion rights now taking place in states has strong potential to motivate and mobilize young voters on both sides of the issue – and that their participation could be decisive in key races around the country.Young people are supportive of abortion rightsAbout 62% of Americans support abortion’s being legal in all or most cases, according to Pew Research polling from July 2022. But that view is even more widely held among people ages 18 to 29 – 70% of people in that age group support legal abortion.Other recent polling puts young people’s support for abortion even higher – a CBS/YouGov survey conducted in June 2022, shortly after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, found that 78% of young people favor legal abortion.Young people are also the most likely age group to disapprove of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the constitutional right to an abortion. Sixty-nine percent of young people disapprove of the ruling, compared with 60% of adults ages 30 to 49 and half of Americans older than 49.Women and people of color across all age groups – especially Black and Asian Americans – are also more likely than men and white people to disapprove of the Supreme Court’s ruling.That’s notable because young women and young women of color, in particular, have led civic and electoral participation in recent years. Young women voted at a higher rate than young men in 2020. Young women of color were more likely to talk to their peers about politics, attend demonstrations and register others to vote than young white women.Nearly half of young women said that they supported or were active participants in the reproductive rights movement, according to my 2018 survey of people ages 18 to 24. Women of color were more likely to be involved in the reproductive rights movement than young white women, our survey found.Many young people want action on abortionFor some young people, political engagement goes beyond abortion, as a spring 2022 Harvard poll found that about half of young people think the country is on the wrong track.And 41% of 18-to-29-year-olds surveyed in another poll say the Dobbs decision makes them more likely to vote in the midterms. In the Pew Research survey mentioned above, over two-thirds of those under 30 reported at least somewhat disapproving of the court decision.Other surveys suggest that specific policies and laws to protect abortion access are top priorities to young voters.When young people want action on issues they care about, like abortion, they can feel motivated to push political leaders. Their disappointment or disillusionment with particular politicians does not necessarily mean they’re disillusioned about their own political power. On the other hand, those who oppose abortion rights may now harbor positive feelings about politics: 19% of young people in the CBS/YouGov survey said they felt “happy” about the recent decision.In 2018, my survey of young people before that year’s midterm election found that feeling more disappointed or cynical about politics actually led to a higher, not lower, likelihood to vote.According to my estimates, the percentage of young people who voted more than doubled from the 2014 midterm election to the 2018 midterms – rising from 13% to 28%. My research group’s analyses suggest multiple reasons for this jump, including many groups’ starting voter registration much earlier in the year, and the youth-led activism after the Parkland school shooting.In 2020 a similar dynamic played out nationally following the murder of George Floyd, who was killed by police officers in Minneapolis. In a CIRCLE pre-election survey, young people ranked racism as the second-biggest issue that would influence their vote for president, just behind the environment and climate change. About 50% of youths voted during the 2020 election, compared with 39% of young people who did so in 2016.Youths can swing elections in key statesThe youth vote can decisively shape election results at every level. In 2020, for example, young people cast hundreds of thousands of votes in key battleground states like Arizona, Pennsylvania and Georgia, helping President Joe Biden win all three states and Democratic senators win in Arizona and Georgia.Now that states are deciding on their own abortion laws, young voters’ ballots in gubernatorial and other state and local races may be especially critical in such places as Pennsylvania and Georgia, where new abortion restrictions are a possibility depending on election results.The potential for impact is there – not just for the majority of young people who support abortion, but for the significant minority who oppose it – 32% of people ages 18 to 29 in the CBS/YouGov poll said they approve of the Supreme Court’s decision on abortion.Nevada, Maryland and Maine rank among the top 10 states where young people could decide governor races, according to my research. All three states have abortion protections in place, which could motivate young people to vote for candidates who share their position on abortion, whether for or against abortion rights.CIRCLE team members Ruby Belle Booth, Megan Lam and Alberto Medina contributed to this analysis.This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Abby Kiesa, Tufts University.Read more:Many anti-abortion activists before Roe were liberals who were inspired by 20th-century Catholic social teachingUS Senate to vote on abortion rights bill – but what would it mean to codify Roe into law?Abby has worked on research projects funded by private foundations including: the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, Youth Engagement Fund, the Democracy Fund, the Spencer Foundation, Ford Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, MacArthur Foundation, the Omidyar Network, the Knight Foundation, Tides Foundation, the Bernard and Audre Rapoport Foundation. She is affiliated with Rock the Vote's Democracy Class (Advisory Council), Generation Citizen/Vote16USA (Advisory Board), and the Rural Youth Catalyst Project's Changing the Outcomes for Rural Youth Working Group. | Civil Rights Activism |
Eight cops shot Jayland Walker dozens of times last week. Photo by Matthew Hatcher/ AFP via Getty Images and screenshot via Akron police.Eight Akron, Ohio police officers have been placed on paid leave after body camera footage was released showing them chasing and gunning down an unarmed Black man. Police killed Jayland Walker, 25, in the early morning hours of June 27, after attempting to stop him for traffic and equipment violations. Walker continued driving as police pursued him in their cars and then on foot after Walker got out of the passenger side of his car. On Sunday evening, police released 13 body-worn camera videos. The graphic footage shows police firing dozens of rounds at Walker while running after him; even after his body falls to the ground, officers continue to fire at him, causing him to flip over multiple times. Hundreds of people protested in Akron, Ohio following the release of body camera footage showing police killing Jayland Walker.Photo by Matthew Hatcher/AFP via Getty ImagesThe police force has called on the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to investigate the shooting. Walker’s family’s lawyer Bobby DiCello said he believes Walker was shot at least 60 times. “It was an unbelievable amount of gunfire,” he told the Akron Beacon Journal. DiCello also contested police’s claims that Walker turned to police and motioned with his hands in a way that may have made him appear armed. “There's no making his hand into the shape of a gun. There's no holding his cellphone. He has nothing in his hands,” DiCello said. Images released by the cops show a gun in the driver’s seat of Walker’s car, which police say was accompanied by a loaded magazine. In a press conference Sunday, Akron police chief Steve Mylett said he didn’t know the exact number of rounds officers discharged, but “a lot of rounds were fired.” He said the medical examiner’s report found more than 60 wounds in Walker’s body. Mylett said the incident went from a routine traffic stop to “a public safety issue.” He added officers “diligently provided first aid to save his life” after they shot Walker. He said paramedics then arrived and took over and Walker died on scene. Seven of the eight officers who fired at Walker were white and one was Black, according to the Washington Post. Walker was handcuffed and on his back when a medical examiner arrived on scene, with wounds in his face, abdomen, and upper legs, according to the Akron Beacon Journal.The footage released by police was narrated to include the cops’ version of events. Police tried to stop Walker around 12:30 a.m. on the morning of June 27. They claim Walker “refused to stop” and cops initiated the vehicle pursuit. Police allege 40 seconds after they attempted to stop Walker, “the sound of a gunshot is audible on officers’ (body-worn camera) videos” and that a flash of light also came from the driver’s side of Walker’s car. Mylett said officers will need to justify “what specific threats they were facing, and that goes for every round that goes down the barrel of their gun.” The Akron chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police, the union that represents police officers, said in a statement it believes the officers’ actions were “justified.” On Sunday night, following days of peaceful protests, some vandalism broke out. Some people in the crowd threw water bottles at a local courthouse, while video posted to Twitter shows a man being told to leave, seemingly after trying to take down a street sign. Cops tear gassed the crowd, and one person started breaking the windows of snowplows that had blocked off one of the streets, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. Walker’s family released a statement calling for peaceful protests. "Jayland would have wanted us to channel our anger into peaceful, thoughtful action that can bring long-term change and reform," the statement said, CBS news reports. The city has cancelled Fourth of July celebrations and imposed a curfew between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. DiCello told the Akron Beacon Journal that Walker, a full-time DoorDash employee, has never been in trouble or hurt anyone. “In my 22 years of doing trial work, both as a former prosecutor for Cuyahoga County and as a civil rights attorney on many serious cases of lethal use of force, I have never in my life seen anything like this, ever. It is very, very disturbing,” he said. Follow Manisha Krishnan on Twitter.Get the latest from VICE News in your inbox. Sign up right here.By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Vice Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content. | Civil Rights Activism |
Topline
The Biden administration will take steps to help shore up access to medication abortion and protect patients and providers in response to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade on Friday, Health Secretary Xavier Becerra said Tuesday, as Democrats and abortion rights advocates have demanded action from the White House after the court’s monumental ruling. People gather to protest against the the Supreme Court's decision in the Dobbs v Jackson Women's ... [+] Health case on June 24, 2022 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Getty Images Key Facts Calling the court’s decision “despicable” but not “unpredictable,” Becerra said the Department of Health and Human Services will take steps to increase access to medication abortion, including making sure states cannot ban abortion pills because they’re protected under federal law in cases of rape, incest and when the mother’s life is at risk. The agency will also provide increased guidance on medication abortion to providers. Becerra didn’t rule out that the White House could sue states that try to ban medication abortion, saying HHS will “certainly assert and defend our legal authorities,” but what action it takes will depend on what states do. Becerra will direct HHS’ civil rights office to ensure that privacy and non-discrimination rights for abortion patients and providers are protected. The department will also work to ensure that the “clinical judgment” of healthcare providers to treat pregnant patients are protected, meaning that it will still be possible for them to perform abortions when it’s medically necessary. The agency will also protect access to family planning methods like IUDs—as birth control access also comes under threat—including ensuring family planning providers are covered under Medicaid to expand access to more underprivileged Americans. Crucial Quote
“There is no magic bullet, but if there is something we can do, we will find it and we will do it at HHS,” Becerra said Tuesday, saying the agency will “leave no stone unturned.”
Key Background
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday, declaring the landmark 1973 ruling “egregiously wrong” and setting off a wave of state-level abortion bans that started taking effect immediately following the decision. The Biden administration has come under heavy pressure to help shore up abortion rights in the absence of Roe—even the executive branch is constrained in impacting state-level issues—and 34 Democratic senators sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Saturday urging him to “take immediate action” and “use the full force of the federal government” to protect abortion access. Biden and other top Democrats have been criticized on the left for responding to the ruling too tepidly and largely focusing on telling Americans to vote if they disagree with the court’s decision. “We can’t just tell people, ‘Well, just vote — vote your problems away,’ Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) told the Washington Post. “Because they’re looking at us and saying, ‘Well, we already voted for you.’” What We Don’t Know
How much the Supreme Court’s decision will impact the midterms, as Democratic strategists hope their base’s anger over the ruling will help voter turnout. A Morning Consult poll conducted after the ruling came out found the share of Democrats who say they’re “very” or “extremely” enthusiastic about voting in November shot up eight percentage points from the week before (from 48% to 56%).
Tangent
While the Biden administration announced several proposals on Tuesday, it’s rejected other steps abortion rights proponents have urged the White House to take, such as allowing abortions on federal lands even in states where the procedure is outlawed. “There’s actually dangerous ramifications to doing this,” a White House official said at a press briefing Tuesday, as quoted by the Post, citing the fact that people who aren’t federal employees could still potentially be prosecuted under state bans even if the abortions take place on federal property. Biden has also refused calls to expand the Supreme Court and add justices to offset the court’s 6-3 conservative tilt. Further Reading
Roe V. Wade Overturned: Supreme Court Overturns Landmark Abortion Decision, Lets States Ban Abortion (Forbes)
Half of Voters Disapprove of Supreme Court Ruling to Overturn Roe v. Wade (Morning Consult)
Frustration, anger rising among Democrats over caution on abortion (Washington Post)
34 Senate Democrats urge Biden to take action on abortion. (New York Times) | Civil Rights Activism |
Sports August 11, 2022 / 4:39 PM / CBS News Tributes pour in for NBA legend Bill Russell Tributes pour in for NBA legend and civil rights activist Bill Russell 05:26 The National Basketball Association announced plans Thursday to retire the jersey number of late Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell. Russell, an 11-time NBA champion and activist, passed away on July 31 at the age of 88. According to the league, Russell's No. 6, which he had throughout his 13-season NBA career, will not be issued again by any NBA team. Players who currently hold No. 6 jerseys will be exempt from the rule, and all NBA players will wear a commemorative patch on their uniforms during the 2022-23 season as a tribute to Russell. All NBA courts will also show a lover-shaped logo with the No. 6 on the sideline near the scorer's table, according to the league. Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics during the 1967 season. Robert Abbott Sengstacke/Getty Images While specific teams in the league often retire the jersey numbers of influential or exceptional players, this will be the first time a number is retired across the entire NBA. The Celtics retired Russell's jersey number for their team in 1972. "Bill Russell's unparalleled success on the court and pioneering civil rights activism deserve to be honored in a unique and historic way," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "Permanently retiring his No. 6 across every NBA team ensures that Bill's transcendent career will always be recognized."Russell spent his entire NBA career with the Celtics. During his time as a player, he received the Most Valuable Player award five times, and was a 12-time NBA All-Star. Following his retirement as a player, Russell returned to his beloved team as a coach, becoming the first Black head coach in the league and leading the Celtics to two more championship victories. Russell was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975. In addition to his sports career, Russell was well known as an activist for social justice and civil rights, marching with Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Russell was dedicated to increasing equality throughout the league. In 2010, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from then-President Barack Obama. "This is a momentous honor reserved for one of the greatest champions to ever play the game," National Basketball Players Association Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio said in a statement Thursday. "Bill's actions on and off the court throughout the course of his life helped to shape generations of players for the better and for that, we are forever grateful. We are proud to continue the celebration of his life and legacy alongside the league." In: Boston Celtics NBA Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue | Civil Rights Activism |
NEW YORK (AP) — Pride parades kicked off in New York City and around the country Sunday with glittering confetti, cheering crowds, fluttering rainbow flags and newfound fears about losing freedoms won through decades of activism.The annual marches in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and elsewhere took place just two days after one conservative justice on the Supreme Court signaled, in a ruling on abortion, that the court should reconsider the right to same-sex marriage recognized in 2015.“We’re here to make a statement,” said 31-year-old Mercedes Sharpe, who traveled to Manhattan from Massachusetts. “I think it’s about making a point, rather than all the other years like how we normally celebrate it. This one’s really gonna stand out. I think a lot of angry people, not even just women, angry men, angry women.” Thousands of people — many decked in pride colors — lined the parade route through Manhattan, cheering as floats and marchers passed by. Organizers announced this weekend that a Planned Parenthood contingent would be at the front of the parade.In Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot called the top court ruling a “momentary setback” and said Sunday’s events were “an opportunity for us to not only celebrate Pride, but be resolved for the fight.”“We will not live in a world, not in my city, where our rights are taken from us or rolled back,” said Lightfoot, Chicago’s first openly gay mayor, and the first Black woman to hold the office.In San Francisco, some marchers and spectators held signs condemning the court’s abortion ruling. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who rode in a convertible holding a gavel and a rainbow fan, said the large turnout was an acknowledgement that Americans support gay rights.“Even in spite of the majority on the court that’s anti our Constitution, our country knows and loves our LGBTQI+ community,” she told KGO-TV.The warning shot from the nation’s top court came after a year of legislative defeats for the LGBTQ community, including the passage of laws in some states limiting the discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity with children.As anti-gay sentiments resurface, some are pushing for the parades to return to their roots — less blocks-long street parties, more overtly civil rights marches.“It has gone from being a statement of advocacy and protest to being much more of a celebration of gay life,” Sean Clarkin, 67, said of New York City’s annual parade while enjoying a drink recently at Julius’, one of the oldest gay bars in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village.As he remembers things, the parade was once about defiance and pushing against an oppressive mainstream that saw gays, lesbians and transgender people as unworthy outsiders.“As satisfying and empowering as it may be to now be accepted by the mainstream,” Clarkin said, “there was also something energizing and wonderful about being on the outside looking in.”New York’s first Pride March, then called the Christopher Street Liberation Day March, was held in 1970 to mark the first anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion, a spontaneous street uprising triggered by a police raid on a gay bar in Manhattan.San Francisco’s first march was in 1972 and had been held every year since, except during the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.Celebrations are now global, taking place throughout the year in multiple countries, with many of the biggest parades taking place in June. One of the world’s largest, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, was held June 19.In the United States, this year’s celebrations take place amid a potential crisis.In a Supreme Court ruling Friday striking down the right to abortion, Justice Clarence Thomas said in a concurring opinion that the court should also reconsider its 2015 decision legalizing same-sex marriage and a 2003 decision striking down laws criminalizing gay sex.New York City parade spectator Jackie English said she and her fiancee Dana had yet to set a wedding date, but have a new sense of urgency.“Now we feel a bit pressured,” she said, adding they might “jump the gun a little sooner. Because, what if that right gets taken away from us?”More than a dozen states have recently enacted laws that go against the interests of LGBTQ communities, including a law barring any mention of sexual orientation in school curricula in Florida and threats of prosecution for parents who allow their children to get gender-affirming care in Texas.Several states have put laws in place prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in team sports that coincide with the gender in which they identify.According to an Anti-Defamation League survey released earlier this week, members of LGBTQ communities were more likely than any other group to experience harassment. Two-thirds of respondents said they have been harassed, a little more than half of whom said the harassment was a result of their sexual orientation.In recent years, schisms over how to commemorate Stonewall have opened, spawning splinter groups events intended to be more protest-oriented.In New York City, the Queer Liberation March takes place at the same time as the traditional parade, billing itself as the “antidote to the corporate-infused, police-entangled, politician-heavy Parades that now dominate pride celebrations.”San Francisco’s parade was marked by the return of uniformed police, who were banned in 2020 after a 2019 confrontation with protesters who staged a parade-stopping sit-in. Critics accused them of using excessive force. On Sunday, San Francisco Police Chief William Scott, in full dress uniform, passed out small rainbow pride flags to spectators.Despite the criticism of growing commercialism, a strong streak of activism was apparent among attendees this year.“The recent overturning of Roe v. Wade has caused a very strong uproar about what went down,” said Dean Jigarjian, 22, who crossed the river from New Jersey with his girlfriend to take part in the New York City parade. “So as you can see here, the crowd seems to be very energized about what could be next.” ___Associated Press writers Sara Burnett and Robert Jablon contributed from Chicago and Los Angeles, respectively. | Civil Rights Activism |
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison on Thursday after pleading guilty to violating George Floyd's civil rights."I really don't know why you did what you did, but kneeling on someone until they expire is simply wrong and for that you will be punished," US District Judge Paul Magnuson told Chauvin before handing down his sentence.Chauvin is currently serving 22 and a half years after a state jury found him guilty of violating police policy and training when he pinned his knee on Floyd's neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds during an arrest in May 2020, killing him.His 21-year federal sentence will be served concurrently with the state sentence.Chauvin pleaded guilty to federal charges in December 2021 and faced a sentence recommendation of 20 to 25 years, according to the plea agreement.Prosecutors argued on Thursday that the 20-year police veteran should be handed the maximum sentence of 25 years. His lawyer, Eric Nelson, asked the judge for the minimum 20-year sentence, saying Chauvin is not at risk of repeating the offense and that he won't be a police officer anymore.Speaking briefly in court, Chauvin addressed Floyd's family, some of whom were in the room."I wish them all the best in their lives," he said.Floyd's brother and girlfriend also delivered victim impact statements before the judge, as did Chauvin's mom."My brother was murdered in broad daylight with a knee to his neck for nine minutes," Philonese Floyd said. "The family and I have been given a life sentence, we will never get George back."His girlfriend, Courteney Ross, told the judge how she and Floyd wanted to open a restaurant together. She also addressed Chauvin directly, saying, "Mr. Chauvin, I do not hate you. I am still working to forgive you."In her statement, Chauvin's mom, Carolyn Pawlenty, said her son did not intend to kill anyone that day and said the Minneapolis Police Department "failed to back their own." She also asked the judge to sentence Chauvin to a federal prison in Minnesota or Iowa so that his family could be close by.Floyd's brutal murder, which was recorded by bystanders in a video that went viral, set off a reckoning against police brutality and racism across the country.Three other former police officers who were with Chauvin during the arrest — Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng, and Thomas Lane — were found guilty in February of violating Floyd's civil rights by failing to provide medical care. Their state trial, initially set for June this year, was postponed to early 2023. | Civil Rights Activism |
JAY-Z, who executive produced the ABC miniseries about Emmett Till and his mother, spoke via Zoom at a panel The rapper, who executive produced the ABC miniseries Women of the Movement, explained his involvement in the project at the Disney FYC Fest in Los Angeles on Thursday, and said he felt it was an important story to tell the world. Get push notifications with news, features and more. + Follow Following You'll get the latest updates on this topic in your browser notifications. "We all pretty much know the story. We all have been affected by the real-life tragedy," he said via Zoom at the El Capitan Theatre. "But the opportunity to see how not only a life is lost, but how it would affect everyone going forward was super important and too powerful." He noted that it was especially moving to hear the story of the 14-year-old Till's racially motivated 1955 murder from the perspective of his moved-to-activism mother, calling it "too powerful to ignore." JAY-Z, 52, said that upon seeing the series, which premiered in January, for the first time, he was "blown away." Emmett Till and Mamie Till Mobley Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley | Credit: Bettmann/Getty (2) "You grow up knowing part of the story, and then you see it come back to life again," he said. "Everyone was just so amazing. Adrianne [Warren, who plays Mamie] obviously was just, you could feel the emotion anytime you were on screen. Just to hear the actors talk and the commitment that everyone made and dedication to honor this family. You could just feel the love in this room." The media mogul also praised the "humanity" the show brought to the tragic tale, and in doing so, referenced the May 14 grocery store shooting in Buffalo, where a white man murdered 10 Black people. "The reason why someone can go to Buffalo and write "n—" on the gun is a way for you to separate yourself from the people you harm," he said. "And this display of humanity, it's like nothing I've seen on TV in a while. But again, it's just super proud to be part of it." Warren opened up to PEOPLE at the event, and spoke of not only the additional weight the show creators felt in filming in Greenwood, Mississippi, where the events took place, but in the relevance of the show's message, nearly 70 years on. Jay-z JAY-Z | Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty "It's still happening. This is a historical piece, but it's not," she said. "And because of that, I think every single person that was a part of this, we all worked as a team because it meant so much to us. Because unfortunately, we're still losing babies every day, and moms are still going through this pain. And the more we can bring humanity into people's living rooms, the more we can see ourselves as human beings a little bit more every day and empathize with one another and therefore act differently throughout the world." Women of the Movement creator, writer and executive producer Marissa Jo Cerar also weighed in to PEOPLE, and explained why she felt the need to tell the story of Mamie, who died in 2003 at age 81. "I wanted to put her story out there to as many people as possible to see that one regular person like she was can make a big difference," Cerar said. "And I was so inspired by her and by her courage and her bravery that I just felt like I had to do it. I felt called to tell the story." Dr. Wheeler Parker Jr., Till's cousin and the last living witness to his abduction, told PEOPLE that the series accurately portrays Mamie. "It shows her and how he brought the best out of his mother. That's very important," he said. "She's supposed to give hope to other women facing crises like that. How she took that negative and turned to positive — took a lemon and made lemonade. It speaks volumes." | Civil Rights Activism |
A group of seven Democratic and Democratic-caucusing senators sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Kahn on Wednesday calling on the agency to use “every tool at its disposal” to protect marginalized groups from discrimination in the marketplace. The letter, sent by Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), largely focuses on the impact of technologies such as facial recognition and location data collection on minorities. “We write to urge the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to use the full scope of its authority to protect members of Black communities, other communities of color and immigrant communities in the United States,” the senators wrote. “Individuals in these communities are uniquely vulnerable to threats from discriminatory online practices, biometric surveillance, consumer predation and anti-competitive behavior.” The letter was first reported by Politico. The senators pointed to a wide range of research showing that apparently neutral data collection practices and algorithmic technologies can have discriminatory effects. They referenced reports indicating biases in housing advertisement delivery and reported U.S. government purchases of location data from a popular Muslim prayer and Quran app. “As commercial and social activity continues to move online, these discriminatory and harmful data practices have realworld, lasting impacts,” the senators wrote. The Hill has reached out to the FTC for comment. The senators also argued that the FTC should make racial justice a “core principle” when it considers antitrust decisions, citing research that shows market consolidation has contributed to a decline in minority-owned businesses. “We agree that the FTC should move away from its traditional ‘value-neutral’ antitrust evaluation and instead move towards an approach that advances racial justice,” they wrote. The group particularly took aim at facial recognition software, which they argued is capable of “fundamentally threatening” people’s expectation that they can appear in public without being identified. The senators pointed to a 2019 National Institute of Standards and Technology study that showed facial recognition algorithms were up to 100 times more likely to misidentify Asian and African American faces compared to Caucasians. “Communities of color are already systematically subjected to over-surveillance, and research shows that private businesses have disproportionately deployed facial recognition technology in non-white neighborhoods,” the senators wrote. Facial recognition software and other emerging technologies have been an increasing focus of civil rights groups. The American Civil Liberties Union last year demanded that Amazon stop selling its facial recognition technology to the government after it obtained records showing the product’s marketing to law enforcement. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in September called for a moratorium on artificial intelligence systems that pose a risk to human rights. Some lawmakers have looked to rein in companies’ data collection practices, with key members drafting competing data privacy bills. A bipartisan proposal by Reps. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), who lead the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), the Senate Commerce Committee’s ranking member, faces an uphill battle amid opposition from privacy hawks and business groups. Meanwhile, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the chairwoman of the Senate Commerce Committee, has circulated her own privacy proposal. | Civil Rights Activism |
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! MSNBC opinion columnist Cynthia Miller-Idriss argued on Sunday that the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June fueled White supremacists’ plans to eliminate minority groups and force more White births.Although abortion affects Black and Hispanic communities at a disproportionate rate, Miller-Idriss insisted that limiting abortion by overturning the 1973 Supreme Court decision "directly serves" White supremacist goals."Abortion is seen by white extremists as part of the so-called White genocide plot, and in that sense, reproductive rights are a part of their ‘White extinction anxiety.’ The loss of Roe v. Wade, in this scenario, directly serves White supremacist extremist goals — as long as it is white babies who cannot be aborted," Miller-Idriss wrote.She also implied that the Supreme Court justices who ruled in favor of overturning Roe are directly in favor of dehumanizing women in a similar way. People protest in response to the Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on June 24, 2022 in Washington, DC. The Court's decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health overturns the landmark 50-year-old Roe v Wade case and erases a federal right to an abortion. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)MSNBC HISTORIAN PLEADS WITH AUDIENCE: ‘VOTE AS IT YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT – BECAUSE IT MIGHT’ "This is where the state of reproductive rights in the U.S. post-Roe becomes especially chilling. Justice Samuel Alito’s opinion reversing Roe v. Wade referred to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describing an insufficient ‘domestic supply of infants’ to meet the demand for infant adoption in the U.S. He also cited Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s December reflection during oral arguments that forced pregnancy is not a ‘meaningful hardship’ because unwanted babies can be surrendered through ‘safe haven’ laws. These kinds of justifications for dismantling reproductive rights reduce women to vessels charged with producing babies for the good of the collective," Miller-Idriss wrote.She continued, "It’s not a stretch to see how this frame benefits White supremacist extremists, their obsession with demographic change and their desire to increase White birth rates. It also explains why some White supremacists call to allow free and unrestricted access to abortion for nonwhite women, while banning it for White women. These arguments have been around for nearly two centuries." Miller-Idriss has frequently accused right-wing extremists of weaponizing innocuous things for the purposes of supporting fascism. In March, she argued that online Nazis are using fitness groups to encourage extremist beliefs. MSNBC headline from May 2022 reading, "How right-wing extremists weaponize the idea of motherhood" (MSNBC)In May, she wrote that motherhood, much like ending abortion rights, is also being used by right-wing extremists to push politics."Motherhood plays an especially key role in the kinds of rhetorical strategies far-right extremists use, including the kinds of ‘utopian propaganda’ that calls on followers to reject modernity and embrace ‘traditional values’ and roles," Miller-Idriss wrote at the time. "But women aren’t called upon to be entirely passive as mothers, or to be relegated completely to domestic tasks. Rather, motherhood is used to justify women’s engagement in activism and to ‘depoliticize’ their actions by positioning them as acting on behalf of their children and families."ATLANTIC OP-ED CLAIMS CATHOLIC ROSARY HAS BECOME ‘AN EXTREMIST SYMBOL’ Her claim that White supremacist groups have grown obsessed with birth rates and abortion continued three months later.She closed her August piece claiming, "But in a post-Roe world, a plot to force women to become pregnant, however fringe it might be, takes on a whole new meaning. Amid near-constant revelations of White supremacist extremist and other far right plots in this country over the past few years (and worse, successfully executed attacks and mass shootings), we have seen far too little U.S. government energy dedicated to combatting the threat of White supremacist extremism." MSNBC has suggested that people in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade are motivated by race. (iStock)CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPMSNBC has frequently brought up race as a factor in the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision. In June, a panel on MSNBC’s "Ayman" claimed that Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, agreed to confirm Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh based mostly on their White privilege. Lindsay Kornick is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to lindsay.kornick@fox.com and on Twitter: @lmkornick. | Civil Rights Activism |
NEW YORK (AP) — When the U.S. Supreme Court struck down New York’s tight restrictions on who can carry a handgun, condemnation erupted from liberal leaders and activists. But some public defenders, often allies of progressive activists, praised the court’s ruling, saying gun-permitting rules like New York’s have long been a license for racial discrimination. By making it a crime for most people to carry a handgun, New York and a few other states have ended up putting people — overwhelmingly people of color — behind bars for conduct that would be legal elsewhere, the defense lawyers complain. “New York’s gun licensing regulations have been arbitrarily and discriminatorily applied, disproportionately ensnaring the people we represent, the majority of whom are from communities of color,” said The Legal Aid Society, which represents criminal defendants who can’t afford their own lawyers. The court’s decision Thursday concerned a century-old law that said New Yorkers seeking gun licenses had to show an unusual threat to their safety if they wanted to carry a handgun in public. Simply wanting a gun for personal defense was not enough. And the police departments or judicial magistrates were given wide discretion to decide who needs and deserves to carry a gun. Reasons could include being a retired law enforcement officer or working as an armed guard or in a business that transports valuables. A few other states have similar standards. The Supreme Court, in a majority opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas, said New York’s system violated Americans’ Second Amendment right to “keep and bear arms.” New York’s governor and New York City’s mayor, both Democrats, quickly began eying other potential guardrails for carrying guns. Gov. Kathy Hochul plans to convene with state lawmakers at the end of the month to push for new gun safety legislation. Ideas include banning them in certain areas, such as subways, or requiring weapons training to get a permit. The officials argue that it’s perilous to make it easier to carry a gun. They envision more arguments turning into deadly confrontations at a time when the nation is already beset by gun violence. Some civil rights leaders agree. The Rev. Al Sharpton called the Supreme Court ruling “devastating,” and the National Urban League and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund said it was particularly so for Black people. In a friend-of-the-court brief, the two groups pointed to statistics showing that Black Americans, particularly Black male teens and young men, die from gunfire at a higher rate than do whites or the general population. “If the Supreme Court actively were seeking out a way to make the nation more volatile and dangerous, it could not have devised a more damaging scenario,” league President Marc Morial said after the ruling. But attorneys from nearly a dozen New York public defender agencies and organizations cited other statistics. Black people faced 78% of felony gun possession charges in the state last year, while making up 18% of its population — compared to 7% of prosecutions and 70% of the population for non-Hispanic whites, the defenders said in their own friend-of-the-court brief. Over 90% of people arrested in New York City on charges of possessing a loaded firearm are Black and/or Latino, according to the filing, although non-Hispanic whites comprise nearly 1/3 of the city population. The defenders argue that the numbers are rooted in a history of racist anxieties about racial and ethnic minorities having firearms and are furthered by an “expensive and onerous discretionary licensing process.” According to New York Police Department statistics, about 3,500 civilians in the city of 8.5 million have “business carry” licenses, and another 2,000 guards have permits to carry guns while working. About 15,000 retired law enforcement officers have a type of license that’s specific to them. The department didn’t provide a breakdown of licensees by race. “While white people throughout the nation amass firearm arsenals even as hobbies, Black and Latinx New Yorkers are arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned for simply possessing a single pistol for self-defense,” several of the brief’s authors wrote in an October article on Scotusblog, a legal news site. One defendant was a working father and college student who carried a gun to a neighborhood where he’d been slashed in the face; he ended up serving eight months in jail and dropping out of college, according to the defenders. Another man contracted COVID-19 and died last fall while jailed on $100,000 bail in a case alleging he had a gun in his car, which he denied. Another defendant, a military veteran who served in Iraq and legally owned a gun in her home state of Texas, was arrested for having the weapon in her car in New York. She was jailed for weeks before making bail and was subjected to a child-neglect proceeding that kept her away from her two small boys for a year. The criminal case was eventually dismissed. “I lost everything: my job, my car, my home and my kids,” she said in the court filing. In Chicago, Cook County Public Defender Sharone Mitchell Jr. has become convinced that Illinois’ firearms laws — which are strict but don’t include a New York-style “proper cause” standard — are doing less to keep guns off streets than to put people in prison. A quarter of his caseload involves no other charge but gun possession. “We have a gun problem, full stop. But failed policies are part of the problem,” Mitchell said in a statement after the Supreme Court ruling in the New York case. “These laws facilitate racially targeted enforcement that sends thousands of Black people to prison because they do not have or cannot get the required licenses, not because they’ve been accused of harming someone.” The high court indicated that states still can require licenses and can impose some conditions, and New York and other states with similar laws will surely look closely at what leeway they still have. But some public defenders suggest lawmakers should take a broader view of gun safety. “Regulation and criminalization are not our only options,” said Corey Stoughton, a Legal Aid Society attorney who focuses on legislative and regulatory reform. She points to such approaches as violence intervention programs. “If we want to reduce guns, we need to make people feel safe,” Stoughton said. “And we have ways that are positive approaches to invest in our communities and make people feel safer.” | Civil Rights Activism |
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A federal civil rights lawsuit alleges two southern Oregon police officers used excessive force against a man who fled from a vehicle stop and was shot with a Taser while standing in a creek.The lawsuit says two Eagle Point officers fired their stun guns at Jonathon J. Wolf on June 21, 2021, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. The suit says that caused him to fall in the water and hit his head on a rock, knocking him unconscious.Police initially had stopped a car in which Wolf was riding. Wolf ran as police tried to arrest him on a parole violation warrant.NYC MAYOR DE BLASIO APOLOGIZES FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT'S 'EXCESSIVE FORCE' DURING GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTSThe suit alleges the officers should have known that Wolf’s position standing in a creek with a rocky bottom would lead to injury when a Taser was used.Aaron Prunty, Eagle Point’s city administrator, said he hadn’t read the suit and couldn’t comment. An Oregon man was shot with a stun gun and is now suing the officers who shot him. Attorney David J. Linthorst said that Wolf floated face down in the water for at least a minute before officers could get to him.Wolf, 33, was hospitalized for a concussion and lung damage, Linthorst said.The suit, filed this week in federal court in Medford, seeks unspecified damages for Wolf’s injuries, medical costs and his pain and suffering.MAJORITY SAY POLICE MORE LIKELY TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE ON BLACK SUSPECTS: POLLWolf's "mere flight" from an officer wasn’t sufficient justification to use a Taser to stop him, Linthorst argues. | Civil Rights Activism |
The 50th anniversary of Title IX has sparked celebration and reflection across college sports. For the Hotline, the moment in time offers an opportunity for prognostication, as well.
For all the benefits created by the groundbreaking civil rights legislation, which became the law of the land on June 23, 1972, the next chapter in the evolution of equity is vital, as well.
And it comes as a monumental shift unfolds across college sports:
Name, image and likeness has changed recruiting and the allocation of resources. The Supreme Court’s ruling on educational benefits could lead to athletes being declared employees.
The NCAA is rewriting its constitution to provide the Power Five with greater autonomy.
More men are coaching women’s sports, yet the number of female athletic directors across Division I remains embarrassingly low.
To address the current state and future direction of Title IX, the Hotline reached out to four leaders in college sports:
— Washington athletic director Jen Cohen — Pac-12 deputy commissioner Teresa Gould
— West Coast Conference commissioner Gloria Nevarez
— Women Leaders in College Sports chief executive Patti Phillips
The interviews were conducted separately and have been tweaked for clarity.
— Title IX has received significant attention lately because of the 50th anniversary. Where is application of the law at the present time?
Gould: I’m excited that there’s so much conversation around the industry. In my lifetime, Title IX is the single biggest game-changer, in and beyond intercollegiate athletics. It has been transformational. The experience I had in the 1970s and 80s is very different from the one girls are having now.
Nevarez: I’m on the NCAA transformation committee, and I keep thinking, ‘Thank goodness for Title IX, but we still have so much work to do.’ Gender equity is called out in the NCAA constitution, and without Title IX, folks wouldn’t be asking about equity. What happened at the 2021 Women’s Final Four shed light on the situation. Just because the NCAA doesn’t receive federal funds, it represents the ecosystem and should comply.
Phillips: There has been progress, and that’s important to remember. Without Title IX, we wouldn’t be where we are. I wouldn’t have my job. I wouldn’t have had a career in coaching. I wouldn’t have gone to college on (a basketball) scholarship. There are thousands of those stories, and the opportunities Title IX has provided, the doors it has opened, are invaluable. I’m grateful for that, and we should celebrate that. But we aren’t done yet.
— What areas of college sports are ripe for additional progress?
Gould: The mindset around opportunity and investment still needs to be changed. Do we want leaders to comply with Title IX because they are legally required to, or do we want them to invest in Title IX because it’s the right thing to do? What’s missing is looking at women’s sports as a product. Whether it’s female student-athletes or the WNBA, we don’t want them to be seen as a charity but as a viable product that — if you build a strategy and make the investment — can become a successful business. It’s difficult to measure the potential because investment hasn’t been happening for very long. We haven’t invested the same way we have for the men’s sports. Think about the Women’s College World Series. What would that look like now if we had invested 30 or 40 years ago?
Cohen: What’s exciting is that women’s sports are more valuable to the consumer because of their growing popularity. If we keep providing more opportunity, they will develop more value and provide more revenue so that we can re-invest. There is so much upside. I look at my sons, who are 17 and 19, and all they have ever known is the amazing female athletes that have been through Washington. And my boys, because they have grown up in that environment and because they have attended or watched games, they see women athletes and women’s sports as valuable. That’s exciting. That’s something to be grateful for. And it’s something that must continue everywhere. Title IX is not a destination. It’s a work in progress.
Phillips: There’s hope from women’s organizations that we can continue to expand and move forward. There is a lot of opportunity for equity, and we aren’t there. Only 23 percent of college athletic directors are female across all NCAA divisions. In Division I, it’s just 14 percent. And in the Power Five, only six out of 65 athletic directors are women. If the leadership is going to reflect the population it serves, that number should be 50 percent.
— On that issue specifically, why aren’t more women leading major college athletic departments?
Cohen: What I’m hopeful for is that if we give women and girls the opportunities to compete and work in sports, that we’ll develop a bigger pipeline. And if there’s a bigger pipeline, we’re more likely to see the leadership numbers grow. Gould: I get more calls for AD jobs than I did 20 years ago, but the numbers still aren’t great and the mindset still exists of, ‘How can she lead a football program when she never played football?’ It’s getting better, but there’s still so much work to be done in that space.
Nevarez; You hear all the time that you have to know football. It’s an unconscious bias, because plenty of male athletic directors never played football. I know women AD candidates who have been asked what the spread offense is during their interviews. But are they asking male candidates the same thing?
Phillips: We have to keep exposing people to the benefits of women in leadership. We have to show the boards of trustees and the presidents and the people who are behind the curtains influencing the decisions. When there are times of great change, two things happen: People fall into old habits, and people avoid risks. NIL, Alston, the NCAA transformation — all those things create unrest and are unsettling. People turn to something that seems like a sure thing, and in some cases, that’s people who prescribe to the traditional athletic director experience and background. But that’s false thinking. We are here today because of how it’s been done in the past. Now is the time to think differently, hire different leaders and explore a new way of doing things in college sports.
— Are there other areas to enhance equity?
Nevarez: A lot more work must be done with leadership on the campuses and at the Power Five commissioner level. And with officiating, too. College sports is behind in that regard. Men and women officiate women’s sports, but only men officiate men’s sports. The NFL and NBA have already integrated women into their officiating crews.
Gould: The numbers of women in coaching are trending in the wrong direction. Why? I think it’s the lifestyle, and depending on your home situation, it’s not the easiest thing to juggle. Not every athletic department is well equipped to know how to support women’s basketball coaches, for example. Not every school program is chartering. Or bringing nannies. The other piece is that more men are migrating to women’s sports because they’re seeing big contracts for coaching jobs with women’s basketball, soccer, volleyball and softball. A large percentage of coaches in those high-profile sports are men. You look at the demographics of athletic directors making the coaching hires, and you see that there are more qualified men available, and I think that’s part of why we are where we are.
— What’s the biggest obstacle for Title IX in the future?
Phillips: Systemic and longstanding bias towards women in our society. We have to get past our biases, particularly for women playing and leading in sport. These biases impact the enforcement and overall impact of Title IX on many levels – from the revenue models to media rights, and access to opportunities for girls and women to play sports.
Nevarez: The biggest challenge is the political environment. Title IX has stood the test of time, but everything is more politicized. What’s the NCAA going to look like going forward? We need it — the NCAA — to understand the value of all the sports.
Cohen: I started working in college athletics in Division III, and I couldn’t get anyone in Division I to return my calls. I was 27 and saw an ad in the NCAA News for an endowed internship at Texas Tech. I left my job at Puget Sound and moved to Lubbock for the internship. I was the first recipient. It was one of the best years of my life. I met a ton of people, I got a lot of meaningful experience, and that access changed my life. I was hired by Washington to work in development the next year. And that’s Title IX at its finest — my internship would never have happened without Title IX. The great news is that people are more committed than ever to giving opportunities to everyone. The question for all of college sports is, how do we generate the revenue to fund the opportunities? What is the structure of intercollegiate athletics in the future that will allow investment and opportunities for all? That’s where the commitment must stay true. Support the Hotline: Receive three months of unlimited access for just 99 cents. Yep, that’s 99 cents for 90 days, with the option to cancel anytime. Details are here, and thanks for your support. *** Send suggestions, comments and tips (confidentiality guaranteed) to pac12hotline@bayareanewsgroup.com or call 408-920-5716
*** Follow me on Twitter: @WilnerHotline
*** Pac-12 Hotline is not endorsed or sponsored by the Pac-12 Conference, and the views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Conference. | Civil Rights Activism |
By Rianna Croxford & Chelsea BaileyBBC NewsImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Anti-abortion activists celebrate the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v WadeFor a new wave of Gen-Z anti-abortion activists, the battle to end abortion is as much about social justice as it is about faith. Noah Slayter estimates he's been to the US Supreme Court almost 50 times in the last five years. The 20-year-old university student, along with his friends, had become something of a fixture on the courthouse steps. Often in matching t-shirts, with placards in hand, they had been united behind one cause: an end to the constitutional right to abortion in the United States. When the Supreme Court announced it was overturning Roe v Wade, "everyone was hugging [and] I started crying my eyes out," he said, recalling the moment the news came. The decision returns the decision over abortion rights to individual states."Even though it's only the first step, we truly had achieved something. We truly levelled the playing field and made it so that everyone has a voice in this country." Mr Slayter is a member of Students for Life, a group with more than 120,000 young anti-abortion Americans who are fighting to end the practice once and for all. Only a quarter of Americans under the age of 30 believe abortion should be illegal in all or most cases, according to a survey by Pew Research Center. Though that view may be in the minority, this vision is becoming reality in several US states. Now, a "Post-Roe" generation of anti-abortion activists has vowed to keep fighting until the procedure is "not just illegal, but unthinkable" across the country. As these young activists see it, outlawing abortion in the United States is not just about religion, but also about justice and part of a larger aim to extend equal rights to everyone - including the "pre-born," which is how the movement describes a foetus - not at odds with the broader activism of their generation.Jess Meeth, who works for the campaign group Democrats for Life, considers herself "whole life" rather than "pro-life" because she supports life "from womb to tomb," she said. "It really honestly wasn't until the year of 2020 that my eyes were opened," she said, referring to the murder of George Floyd by a police officer that set off a wave of anti-racism protests. "With all these other social justice issues, I found myself being more left leaning and I realised that they all go hand in hand as, if we as a society respect life before birth, then we will respect life after birth," the 26-year-old said.Such attitudes could even lead to people re-examining their views on gun violence and racism, she said. Image source, Jess MeethImage caption, Jess Meeth considers herself "whole life" as she supports life "from womb to tomb"Many young activists in the anti-abortion movement say that even though they do not have children themselves, their worldview has been deeply shaped by their own personal experiences. Ms Meeth was born in China under the country's one-child policy and adopted at about seven months by a white single mother from Pennsylvania. Her family is not religious, and her mother is pro-choice, but she later attended a Catholic high school. "With China's one-child policy, and Roe v Wade, the right to life, the right to be born, was completely taken away," she said. "That that was the commonality that I saw: the right to life been being ripped away." Mr Slayter said his anti-abortion stance was solidified when his family began fostering and adopting children in need. He encourages other families to do the same, and says he's not swayed by arguments that restricting abortion access could increase the number of children born into poverty or experiencing trauma in the United States. "I have had all those types of children in my house, sleeping across the hall from me," he said. "There are people who say it is better for them to have died than to live. That really bothers me." In 2020, more than 407,000 children were in foster care, but just over 58,000 were adopted through a public child welfare agency, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Mr Slayter said he's keenly aware that outlawing abortion will require immense change to US social and health care policies to better support parents and families in the United States. Pro-choice and anti-abortion young Americans often share one thing in common: they both view their movements as a fight for equality and justice. But they disagree on whose rights should matter more. Victoria Hammett, deputy director of the political group GenZ for Change, said she views abortion as a part of reproductive healthcare and is dedicated to restoring access to the procedure in the United States. "Fighting for social justice and being 'pro-life' are inherently contradictory because you are forcing people to give up their bodily autonomy," she said. "I think advocating for the government to be able to force people to possibly die during child labour, or to carry other human beings inside of them against their will is by no means social justice."Faith Elwonger disagrees. The 25-year-old biology graduate from Texas said she wants to see funding and awareness redirected from pro-choice organisations like Planned Parenthood towards pregnancy resource centres, which aim to help women carry a child to term. These centres, many of which are religiously affiliated and privately funded through donations, offer people who may be considering abortion free tests, ultrasounds, and counselling. But pro-choice groups accuse them of spreading harmful misinformation about the safety of abortions in order to dissuade women from getting one. While many pro-choice advocates say abortion bans are especially hurtful to minority women, Ms Elwonger, who is black, said that it's wrong to link racial justice to abortion. "Abortion is the number one killer of the black community," she said, referring to the fact that black women account for nearly 40% of those getting abortions in America, even though they represent under 12% of women in the US. Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and many pro-choice advocates say they are worried that bans on abortions will negatively impact black women's health. But Ms Elwonger thinks advocating for abortion is not the answer to addressing these health disparities. Julia DeLuce, who works at a pregnancy centre in Florida, said her support for the anti-abortion community grew after she was raped at aged 16. Anti-abortion advocates helped her seek counselling and press charges against her attacker. "After surviving being raped, I was able to relate to defenceless humans in the womb as abortion is violence committed by an older, more developed human against a younger one," the 24-year-old said. Image source, Julia DeLuceImage caption, Julia DeLuce holds a sign with her anti-abortion messageNot everyone with ties to the anti-abortion movement stays committed to the cause. Jennifer Martin, a 34-year-old former evangelical Christian, once interned for anti-abortion group in high school and used to think of abortion as "murder". But she quit the movement after re-examining its views on relationships and becoming a mother herself. "What really helped me change my mind was hearing from a lot of women who had had abortions and also becoming a mom myself, and just realising how complicated pregnancy and motherhood can be," she said. "To me, as a mom, it would be so much more horrifying to think about somebody having a baby that they don't want to have." Image source, Students for LifeImage caption, Noah Slayter is a college sophomore and a member of an anti-abortion groupSince the Supreme Court has ruled that there is no constitutional right to abortion, the fight for reproductive choice has moved to the states. Mr Slayter of Students for Life said he is confident his 'Post-Roe' generation will deliver on its promise to prohibit abortion."Every person in Gen Z has an understanding of Black Lives Matter, or climate change - all of these movements are for social justice and they're focused on helping people," he said. "The pro-life movement is just another aspect of that". | Civil Rights Activism |
Michigan's Gov. Whitmer says ruling means her state's 1931 law banning abortion takes effect Michigan's Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement Friday it was a "sad day for America" and that her state's "antiquated" 1931 law banning abortion without exceptions for rape or incest will take effect. The law also criminalizes doctors and nurse who provide reproductive care, said Whitmer. "For now, a Michigan court has put a temporary hold on the law, but that decision is not final and has already been challenged. The 1931 law would punish women and strip away their right to make decisions about their own bodies," she said. "I want every Michigander to know that I am more determined than ever to protect access to safe, legal abortion."Whitmer said she filed a lawsuit in April to urge her state's Supreme Court to determine whether Michigan's state constitution protects the right to an abortion. "We need to clarify that under Michigan law, access to abortion is not only legal, but constitutionally protected," she said. Barack Obama calls Roe v. Wade reversal an attack on millionsTat Bellamy-Walker2m ago / 3:33 PM UTCFormer President Barack Obama said the court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade targets the freedom of millions of Americans in the U.S. "Today, the Supreme Court not only reversed nearly 50 years of precedent, it relegated the most intensely personal decision someone can make to the whims of politicians and ideologues—attacking the essential freedoms of millions of Americans," he wrote in a tweet. He noted that states across the country have already passed bills restricting abortion rights, and pointed people who want to fight against these restrictions toward Planned Parenthood and the United State of Women.In a statement, former first lady Michelle Obama said she was "heartbroken for people around this country who just lost the fundamental right to make informed decisions about their own bodies."Recent NBC News poll showed a majority of people in U.S. didn't want Roe v. Wade overturnedA majority of people in the U.S. — 63 percent — said in a recent NBC News poll in May that they didn't believe Roe v. Wade should be overturned, compared to 30% of people who wanted the abortion rights ruling to be reversed.Additionally, a combined 60% of Americans across the country said abortion should be either always legal (37%) or legal most of the time (23%) — the highest share believing it should be legal on this question, which dates back to 2003. By party, 84 percent of Democrats and 63 percent of Independents want abortion to be legal, versus just 33 percent of Republicans. The poll was conducted after the draft opinion of Alito's Roe opinion leaked.NAACP calls decision 'egregious assault on basic human rights'NAACP General Counsel Janette McCarthy Wallace said in a statement Friday the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade as "marks a significant regression of our country.""As a legal professional, I am horrified by this decision. As a Black woman, I am outraged to my core," Wallace said. "There is no denying the fact that this is a direct attack on all women, and Black women stand to be disproportionately impacted by the court's egregious assault on basic human rights. We must all stand up to have our voices heard in order to protect our nation from the further degradation of civil rights protections we have worked so hard to secure."Separately, Portia White, the NAACP vice president of policy and legislative affairs, said: "This Supreme Court is turning back the clock to a dangerous era where basic constitutional rights only exist for a select few. They've stripped away our right to vote, and now women have lost their right to their own body. What’s next?"White added: "We cannot allow our future to rest in the hands of those determined to crush every bit of it. We need to fight back."Biden to address Supreme Court ruling in remarks at 12:30 p.m. ETPresident Joe Biden will address the Supreme Court's ruling in remarks at approximately 12:30 p.m. ET, according to the White House.The guidance said that Biden will deliver his response in the Cross Hall.Durbin announces Judiciary hearing to explore "grim reality of a post-Roe America"Christopher Cicchiello15m ago / 3:20 PM UTCSenate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing next month to "explore the grim reality of a post-Roe America."Durbin, who chairs the committee, made the announcement in a series of tweets in which he vowed to keep "fighting to enshrine into law a woman’s right to make her own reproductive choices.” "The Court’s decision to erase the right to an abortion will not only lead to the denial of critical health care services, but also criminal consequences for women & health care providers in states eager to embrace draconian restrictions," Durbin wrote. "We cannot let our children inherit a nation that is less free and more dangerous than the one their parents grew up in."He also urged voters to elect "pro-choice Democrats who will write abortion protections into law" in the midterm elections.LGBTQ rights could be at risk post-Roe, advocates warned before rulingJulie Moreau17m ago / 3:18 PM UTCThe leaked initial draft of the Supreme Court opinion overturning Roe v. Wade had advocates worried about what the precedent’s reversal could mean for the LGBTQ community’s recently gained rights. Cathryn Oakley, an attorney with the Human Rights Campaign, the country’s largest LGBTQ rights group, stressed that the high court’s decision would have a direct impact on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. “The LGBTQ community relies on reproductive health care. LGBTQ people seek and receive abortions, they seek and receive and use contraception,” she said. The willingness of the court to overturn precedent could, some advocates fear, signal that other federally protected rights of minorities may be in jeopardy, such as same-sex marriage, which became the law of the land with the Obergefell v. Hodges case. Read more about what LGBTQ rights advocates warned before Friday's ruling.Virginia Gov. Youngkin says Supreme Court ruling 'rightfully returned power to the people'Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade "has rightfully returned power to the people" and the elected officials of each state. "I’m proud to be a pro-life Governor and plan to take every action I can to protect life," he said in a statement Friday. "The truth is, Virginians want fewer abortions, not more abortions. We can build a bipartisan consensus on protecting the life of unborn children, especially when they begin to feel pain in the womb, and importantly supporting mothers and families who choose life."Youngkin, a Republican, said he has called on several lawmakers, including state Sens. Siobhan Dunnavant and Steve Newman, to help "find areas where we can agree and chart the most successful path forward."The Virginia Assembly is controlled by Republicans and the Senate has a narrow 19-21 Democratic majority. Manchin says he's 'alarmed,' had trusted Gorsuch and Kavanaugh when they said Roe was settled precedentSen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said in a statement that he is "deeply disappointed" by the Supreme Court's decision and "alarmed" that the two Trump-appointed justices that he voted to confirm supported it."I trusted Justice Gorsuch and Justice Kavanaugh when they testified under oath that they also believed Roe v. Wade was settled legal precedent and I am alarmed they chose to reject the stability the ruling has provided for two generations of Americans," he said.Manchin said he was raised "pro-life" as a Catholic and still maintains that view. "But I have come to accept that my definition of pro-life may not be someone else’s definition of pro-life. I believe that exceptions should be made in instances of rape, incest and when the life of the mother is in jeopardy," he said. Manchin said that he supports legislation that would codify Roe v. Wade into federal law, saying, "I am hopeful Democrats and Republicans will come together to put forward a piece of legislation that would do just that."Thomas calls on court to reconsider contraception, same-sex marriage casesJustice Clarence Thomas, concurring with the majority ruling, explicitly called on the Supreme Court to overrule the rulings in Griswold v. Connecticut, which protects the right to contraception; Lawrence v. Texas, the right to same-sex intimacy; and Obergefell v. Hodges, the right to same-sex marriage.“As I have previously explained, 'substantive due process' is an oxymoron that 'lack[s] any basis in the Constitution,'” he wrote.Chief Justice Roberts warns Dobbs ruling goes too farChief Justice John Roberts voted with the other conservative justices to uphold the Mississippi law in today's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling, but urged against going further.“Surely we should adhere closely to principles of judicial restraint here, where the broader path the Court chooses entails repudiating a constitutional right we have not only previously recognized, but also expressly reaffirmed applying the doctrine of stare decisis,” he wrote.ACLU slams court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade as "shameful"Tat Bellamy-Walker28m ago / 3:07 PM UTCThe American Civil Liberties Union called the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade "shameful."“Second-class status for women has once again become the law because of today’s decision," Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the ACLU, said in a statement. "We can wave away any pretense that this is the United States of America when it comes to the fundamental right to decide when and if to become a parent." Romero warned that the decision will have far-reaching consequences.“The Supreme Court has just plunged this country and itself into a historic crisis, one that will reverberate far beyond the ability to get an abortion."Alito says Constitution 'makes no reference to abortion'Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito wrote in his majority opinion overturning Roe v. Wade that the Constitution "makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision" including the due process clause of the 14th Amendment. "It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives," wrote Alito, who then quoted from an opinion written by then-Justice Antonin Scalia from the Planned Parenthood v. Casey case: "The permissibility of abortion, and the limitations, upon it, are to be resolved like most important questions in our democracy: by citizens trying to persuade one another and then voting."In emotional remarks, Nancy Pelosi denounces Supreme Court, Trump, GOPIn searing and emotional remarks, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi excoriated the Supreme Court for overturning Roe v. Wade and blamed former President Donald Trump and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for laying the groundwork for the decision."Because of Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, the Republican Party and their supermajority on the Supreme Court, American women today have less freedom than their mothers," Pelosi told reporters at a news conference.She described the top court's ruling as "dangerous" and urged people who support abortion rights and access to vote in the November midterm elections."In the Congress, be aware of this, Republicans are plotting a nationwide abortion ban. They cannot be allowed to have a majority in the Congress to do that," Pelosi said.'Today, Life Won,' Pence saysFormer Vice President Mike Pence, who has long been opposed to abortion, celebrated the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, saying "Today, Life Won.""By overturning Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court of the United States has given the American people a new beginning for life and I commend the Justices in the majority for having the courage of their convictions," he wrote in a series of tweets."Now that Roe v. Wade has been consigned to the ash heap of history," he continued, "a new arena in the cause of life has emerged and it is incumbent on all who cherish the sanctity of life to resolve that we will take the defense of the unborn and support for women in crisis pregnancies to every state Capitol in America."He added, "Having been given this second chance for Life, we must not rest and must not relent until the sanctity of life is restored to the center of American law in every state in the land."March for Life president praises decision to overturn Roe v. WadeAntonio Planas35m ago / 3:00 PM UTCMarch for Life President Jeanne Mancini praised the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn an “unpopular and extreme abortion policy on our nation.”March for Life is an annual rally held in the nation’s capital condemning the 1973 decision by the nation’s highest court that legalized abortion nationwide.“Today, the ability to determine whether and when to limit abortion was returned to the American people who have every right to enact laws like Mississippi’s which protect mothers and unborn babies after 15 weeks — when they have fully formed noses, can suck their thumb, and feel pain,” Mancini said in a statement. “We will continue to march until abortion is unthinkable because equality begins in the womb.”In concurrence, Kavanaugh says states can't bar residents from traveling elsewhere for abortionIn a concurrence to the Supreme Court's ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote that states cannot block people from traveling to other states to seek an abortion because of the "constitutional right to interstate travel."But many legal observers and political analysts expect that exact issue will be at the center of the next chapter of this fight.'One of the darkest days our country has ever seen,' Schumer saysSenate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said a fundamental right was "stolen" from American women Friday when the Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade ruling that guaranteed a constitutional right to an abortion. He called it "one of the darkest days our country has ever seen." "Millions upon millions of American women are having their rights taken from them by five unelected Justices on the extremist MAGA court," he said in a statement. "These justices, appointed by Republicans and presiding without any accountability, have stolen a fundamental right to have an abortion away from American women in this country. These justices were intentionally appointed by Republicans to overturn Roe v. Wade and every Republican Senator knew this would happen if they voted to confirm these radical justices." Schumer, D-N.Y., condemned Republicans for their "complicit" decision in the ruling, saying it will have "consequences for women and families in this country.""Today’s decision makes crystal clear the contrast as we approach the November elections: elect more MAGA Republicans if you want nationwide abortion bans, the jailing of women and doctors and no exemptions for rape or incest," he continued. "Or, elect more pro-choice Democrats to save Roe and protect a woman’s right to make their own decisions about their body, not politicians."Rep. Dean blasts court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade as 'horrifying'Tat Bellamy-Walker44m ago / 2:50 PM UTCRep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., condemned the court's decision."Absolutely horrifying," Dean said. "It's taking us back more than 50 years." She urged people to fight back against the opinion."People need to be out protesting," she said. "Peacefully protesting and voting.” INTERACTIVE: Live in a state set to ban abortions? See how far you’d have to travel for careWithout Roe v. Wade, women and girls seeking an abortion in states where the procedure will be banned will face long treks, often by multiple means of transportation, in order to get care.NBC News analyzed the distance to the nearest open abortion clinic from major cities in 21 states that either have pre-existing or pending state-level abortion bans that will go into effect following the Supreme Court’s ruling Friday to overturn Roe. Women and girls there will have to drive 4 hours on average in order to receive care in bordering states where abortion remains legal.View the graphic here. Mississippi AG: 'Roe v. Wade is finally behind us'Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, a Republican who advocated for the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, celebrated what she characterized as a "new era in American history."Pelosi says Supreme Court achieved Republicans' 'dark and extreme goal' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the Supreme Court has "achieved the GOP's dark and extreme goal of ripping away women's right to make their own reproductive health decisions." "Because of Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, the Republican Party and their supermajority on the Supreme Court, American women today have less freedom than their mothers," she wrote in a statement.Pelosi said that congressional Republicans are "plotting a nationwide abortion ban," and vowed that "Democrats will keep fighting ferociously to enshrine Roe v. Wade into law.""This cruel ruling is outrageous and heart-wrenching," she added. "But make no mistake: the rights of women and all Americans are on the ballot this November."Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene celebrates decision overturning RoeMarjorie Taylor Greene, the firebrand Republican congresswoman from Georgia, told reporters Friday that the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade is a "blessing" and an "answered prayer.""I've prayed for this my whole life," Greene said.Democratic PACs say voters must 'fight like hell' this November Two major Democratic political action committees, the Senate Majority PAC and House Majority PAC, criticized the high court in a joint statement Friday for taking away a woman's constitutional right to an abortion. Senate Majority PAC President JB Poersch and House Majority PAC Executive Director Abby Curran Horrell said the ruling "flies in the face of decades of precedent and is a direct assault on the constitutional right to a safe, legal abortion that’s been guaranteed for nearly a half-century."They said that abortion rights will be a top issue in the current midterm elections cycle, saying they "will determine whether Republicans can place cruel new restrictions on reproductive rights, ban abortion nationwide with no exceptions, criminalize abortion providers, and punish women. The stakes of defending our Democratic Senate and House majorities have never been higher.""Come November, we must elect Democrats to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives who will fight like hell to ensure that our constitutional rights are enshrined into law and serve as the last line of defense against Republicans’ extremist attacks on our fundamental freedoms," they said. Planned Parenthood: 'The court has failed us all'Planned Parenthood, one of the leading providers of reproductive health care in the U.S., said in a tweet that the Supreme Court has "failed us all" but added "this is far from over."Key abortion rights group blasts Supreme Court decisionThe Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights, excoriated the "anti-abortion ideologues on the U.S. Supreme Court" who overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday."The U.S. Supreme Court has taken the radical step of overturning Roe v. Wade outright, thus unleashing uncertainty and harm onto people asking for nothing more than to exercise their fundamental right to bodily autonomy," Guttmacher Institute President and CEO Dr. Herminia Palacio said."While much has been lost today, the fight is far from over," she added. "The anti-abortion movement is already pushing for a national abortion ban. All of us seeking to defend policies that support bodily autonomy must be ready to meet them with all we have."We must protect abortion rights and access in as many states as possible and achieve federal legislation to ensure that anyone, anywhere who needs an abortion can get one freely and with dignity."House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy says ruling will 'save countless innocent lives'House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., applauded the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade on Friday, saying that the ruling will "save countless innocent lives." "The Supreme Court is right to return the power to protect the unborn to the people’s elected representatives in Congress and the states," he said in a statement.McCarthy added, "In the days and weeks following this decision, we must work to continue to reject extreme policies that seek to allow late-term abortions and taxpayer dollars to fund these elective procedures."The GOP leader also said that "much work remains to protect the most vulnerable among us."Supreme Court overturns Roe v. WadeThe Supreme Court on Friday overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that guaranteed a constitutional right to an abortion in a 6-3 vote, a momentous break from a half-century of rulings on one of the nation’s most controversial issues. About half the states have already indicated they would move to ban the procedure.Supporters of abortion rights were bracing for the loss after an early draft of the opinion was leaked in May, touching off several days of demonstrations in more than two dozen cities. Protesters even showed up outside the homes of some members of the court.Read more here. | Civil Rights Activism |
CBS Mornings June 27, 2022 / 10:17 AM / CBS News Volunteers to help women travel for abortions Activists prepare for influx of people seeking abortions in Illinois 04:48 Laurie, who lives north of Chicago, says getting behind the wheel is an act of activism. She drives women who need a ride to get an abortion, both locally and from out-of-state. She volunteers for the Midwest Access Coalition (MAC), a non-profit that helps fund everything from lodging and transportation to childcare for women who need those resources to get the procedure.Laurie said she's driven about 20 women in the last three years. CBS News correspondent Adriana Diaz asked, "What do you remember about the last woman you transported?" "She was a single mom. She wasn't getting a lot of support from her former husband. And she said, 'I just can't manage it as much as I would like to.' And it was just, it was heartbreaking, and it was encouraging at the same time that she had an avenue to terminate her pregnancy, because she wanted to and felt she needed to."The Supreme Court's decision striking down Roe v. Wade could create a new wave of pregnant people traveling to states where abortion is more widely available.With Roe v. Wade overturned, which states would restrict or protect abortion rights?How Supreme Court conservatives are reshaping Americans' rights ("Sunday Morning")Senator Elizabeth Warren says leaked Supreme Court draft opinion on abortion "has opened a door to a whole lot of ugliness" ("CBS Mornings")Irish doctor says "women will die" if Roe v. Wade overturned in U.S. ("CBS Mornings")Illinois, which has strong abortion protections in place, is surrounded by states that have or could have restrictions on the procedure. With Roe overturned, Planned Parenthood estimates that up to 30,000 additional patients could travel to Illinois for abortions over the next year. CBS News Planned Parenthood of Illinois has been preparing for years in case Roe fell, building a facility in Waukegan (about eight miles from the Wisconsin border), and another near Indiana. Speaking ahead of the Supreme Court's decision last Friday, MAC's executive director Diana Parker-Kafka said demand for her organization's services had already tripled this year. "Like, my phone's vibrating every five seconds now," she said. And she worries that, without Roe, Illinois healthcare facilities would be stretched to capacity. Diaz asked, "Do you expect people will have to be turned away?""Oh yeah. Yeah. There will be people that we won't be able to see through their abortion care that need it. And we're also thinking about plans on how to support those people." "There are anti-abortion rights activists who believe that it's wrong to help women cross state lines to get an abortion if she's coming from a state where it's banned," Diaz said. "What do you say to them?""I don't think bodily autonomy should be limited by borders," Parker-Kafka replied. "These are people making a decision that is really essential for their lives, for their families.""Is your organization helping people, women, skirt state laws?""I wouldn't say they're skirting state laws," Parker-Kafka said. "If someone has an appointment at a clinic in Illinois and that care is legal, then we absolutely will help them get there."CBS News poll: Most Americans disapprove overturning Roe v. Wade, call it step backwardThousands gather for pro-abortion rights protests across U.S. ("CBS Saturday Morning")The end of Roe v. Wade: America reactsAnd for some volunteers, like Laurie, their passion is personal. She had an abortion in her thirties before she was ready for a family. "I knew immediately that there's no way I'm going to have a child right now," she said. "I was lucky it was after Roe. I'm old enough to clearly remember before Roe was passed. And I know what those experiences were like."She said ensuring access to safe, legal abortion is what drives her."Is it hard dropping folks off?" Diaz asked. "Yes, yes, it is, it is. I think about them walking through the doors. They stay with me. It reinforces my commitment to keep on doing this as long as necessary – which is looking like it's gonna be a while."It's not a crime for a woman to travel to another state for an abortion – in fact, Justice Brett Kavanaugh noted in his concurring opinion that interstate travel is protected under the Constitution.Some local prosecutors in places like St. Louis and Dallas have also said they will not prosecute anyone who helps a woman get an abortion, even though the procedure is banned in those states.Texas abortion ban targets anyone who helps patients get the procedure ("CBS Mornings") See also: Advocates report seeing "huge increase in demand" for abortion pills since leaked Supreme Court draft opinion ("CBS Mornings")A frontline in the fight over abortion ("Sunday Morning")Hillary Clinton on what happens if Roe v. Wade is overturned: "You have no idea who they will come for next" ("CBS Evening News")From 2021: Abortion – The great divide ("Sunday Morning")In: Abortion Planned Parenthood Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue | Civil Rights Activism |
“I came out to my mother with the words: ‘Mum, I think I’m becoming homosexual.’” Ted Brown grew up in London at a time when homosexuality was illegal. When he was 14, he felt very alone and isolated, and decided to come out to his mother “out of depression about the situation”. He recalls his mother, who had been involved in the civil rights movement in the US, saying to him: “There’s nothing wrong with your being homosexual and you deserve equal rights in the same way as black people have been fighting for our rights.” Brown joined the Gay Liberation Front when he was 20 and, in 1972, helped organise the first Pride event in the UK. He tells Hannah Moore about their kiss-in at Hyde Park and how the protesters were received by the public. Hannah also visits Stef Dickers, the archives manager at the Bishopsgate Institute, to discuss a new collection called the Peoples’ Pride Archive. He’s documenting how the Pride movement has evolved over the last five decades, and collects artefacts from different events. Dickers explains how it’s clear throughout its history that Pride has been both a protest and a celebration. “One thing we know, through a lot of the collections we have here, sometimes moments you think are just moments of joy, queer joy, they are actually intensely political,” he says. Sarah Savage, the chief executive of Trans Pride Brighton, tells Hannah why she decided to set up a separate event for trans people. “Over the last five years or so, the conversation for trans rights has really been dragged down to the gutter,” says Savage. “This makes a lot of people feel angry, makes a lot of people feel scared and alone. And Trans Pride exists to prevent that.” Photograph: Eye Ubiquitous/Universal Images Group/Getty Images | Civil Rights Activism |
Under brilliant blue skies and a sea of rainbow balloons, thousands of people turned out to celebrate Pride in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, last weekend. As temperatures climbed into the high 90s, attendees sweltered in their sequined outfits and sweat mixed with body paint. Still, the mood was both joyous and defiant in this state where, like others across the country, LGBTQ people have been coming under attack.“Just seeing everybody coming down, just showing their spirit, it made me almost cry,” attendee Peyton Yates told local station KELO. “I love that Sioux Falls is showing how much pride they have. It gives me hope for the world.”This was just the third-ever Pride parade to be held in the streets of Sioux Falls — indeed, in all of South Dakota. And yet, things also felt different this year — more urgent, more uncertain. This rural city of less than 200,000 people may seem like an unlikely place to encapsulate this unusual Pride Month, but the political and cultural crosswinds have been pushing through it, as they have across the US.“We’re all very aware of what’s happening around the country,” Sioux Falls Pride marketing director Rachel Polan told BuzzFeed News.To celebrate Pride in America in 2022 is to be on edge and alarmed. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, they have increased security, and marshals are taking active shooting training. In Atlanta, young activists canceled an in-person rally for trans rights after receiving a “credible death threat.” And in Seattle, extra police and security officers will be on hand to patrol this weekend’s celebration after a man was arrested and charged with a hate crime for threatening the first-ever Pride event scheduled in Anacortes, 90 minutes to the north. Authorities had been looking for the man since early June, when he was accused of threatening a neighbor and her wife by yelling, “It used to be legal to kill gay people!”South Dakota is no different. Two of the 31 suspected white nationalists arrested for allegedly planning to disrupt an Idaho Pride event the previous weekend were from Sioux Falls. News of that incident caused the Sioux Falls planners to increase security for their own event. “I was a little nervous,” Pride president Matt Neufeld told BuzzFeed News. “Immediately, the board came together and we were texting back and forth and coming up with a plan.”Extra police and trained volunteers kept watch for any troublemakers, while authorities combed social media ahead of the big day for chatter by potential disruptors. The Pride festival — complete with stalls, performances, and a drag queen story hour event for children — had also been moved from a city park to a parking lot, where hired security could restrict entry if need be. But the threats go beyond acts of violence. Amid a series of new laws targeting the LGBTQ community in South Dakota, Sioux Falls Pride recently registered as a 501(c)(4) with the IRS, which will allow them to spend the rest of the year engaging in political lobbying to fight back.Given the political climate, Neufeld said this year’s parade was an act of visibility, not just celebration.“With all of the legislation going on in South Dakota and around the country … [it was important to bring] more awareness towards our community and our members that are feeling more attacked and under the microscope,” Neufeld said. “[Pride] is more important now than ever.”Neufeld is not alone in sensing that things may be backsliding. After a decade of remarkable advancements in civil rights for the LGBTQ community that saw the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the legalization of same-sex marriage, and an important rise in the cultural prominence and public acceptance of transgender and nonbinary Americans, it feels to many in 2022 that the march of progress has suddenly been halted. Some 70% of LGBTQ people feel discrimination has increased in the last two years, according to a survey by media watchdog GLAAD that was released on Wednesday."I would honestly be lying if I said I weren't afraid that it could all be, it could all go away," Jim Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in the 2015 Supreme Court case on same-sex marriage, told BuzzFeed News following the court's striking down of Roe v. Wade on Friday.He and others warned that, due to comments in Justice Clarence Thomas's abortion opinion, LGBTQ rights could be next. "It's time for people to stop being complacent. It's time for people to stop saying well that will never happen," Obergefell said. "Here we are. It has happened."It’s not just a feeling. South Dakota is one of 13 states that have passed a total of 24 anti-LGBTQ pieces of legislation this year, according to the Human Rights Campaign. The LGBTQ advocacy group has counted more than 325 harmful bills pending in statehouses across the country — a record high that has activists busy and alarmed.“Pride was born from protest,” said Cathryn Oakley, HRC state legislative director and senior counsel, “and I am certainly feeling this year that Pride is less joyful than it has been, at least for me, in the past, and that it is calling for protest, it is calling for folks to stand up and organize, and for our community to be mobilized — not just LGBTQ folks, but our allies, too.”Oakley said she sees a “dissonance” between the lawmakers introducing the bills and the general public, who overwhelmingly support the LGBTQ community. What’s changed, Oakley said, are their opponents’ tactics.“In the last several years, our community has absolutely been under attack, and we've been under attack from the same forces who have been attacking LGBTQ equality for decades and decades,” Oakley said. “The opponents' names are the same. Their tactics are actually sort of reverting back to some of the vintage tactics that they used back in the day.”Following a strategy that has successfully centered schools and classrooms in fights over the pandemic and critical race theory, opponents of the LGBTQ community have also made children central to their latest moral panic. South Dakota, Alabama, and Georgia have all followed Florida’s lead in legislating so-called Don’t Say Gay laws, which restrict references to LGBTQ people in classrooms. Elsewhere, a national Catholic political group is urging parents nationwide to check out any books featured in library Pride Month displays and not return them unless such displays are taken down.Oakley says these opponents are also working overtime to leverage public ignorance or apprehension over emerging issues — such as transgender athletes competing in women’s sports or medical treatment for trans children — to wage a broader fight.“They're not truly interested in what medical best practice is surrounding trans youth. They're here because they do not believe that LGBTQ people should be allowed to be LGBTQ,” Oakley said. “I don't think it counts as a culture war when some people are just trying to live their lives on one side and other people are trying to prevent them from doing that.” Central to this fearmongering has been a concerted widespread use by right-wing figures, most notably by the press secretary of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, to link gay people to “grooming.” What began as a loose term for any age-inappropriate discussion with children about LGBTQ culture has more recently been used by trolls and bad faith actors to imply, or just outright contend, that gay people are seeking to molest children — a despicable and tired trope that has been dubbed “vintage homophobia.”“I don’t even understand how they think that’s possible,” said Neufeld, the Sioux Falls Pride president. “Do they really believe that? Or is that just the language that they’re trying to use to scare people? Yeah, the groomer thing — that does shock me.”Most recently, this has been extended to events featuring drag queen performances for children, whether at story reading events at local libraries or brunches at restaurants. The explosion of attention on such events — NBC News found mentions of drag queen story hour on Twitter increased 777% in the last month — has been promulgated by highly influential far-right social media stars like Chaya Raichik, the Brooklyn real estate agent behind @LibsOfTikTok, who will often highlight events she deems inappropriate to her more than 1.3 million followers on Twitter, and Christopher Rufo, a far-right activist who has turned his attention from CRT to gay people.“Conservatives should start using the phrase ‘trans stripper’ in lieu of ‘drag queen,’” Rufo tweeted last week to his 380,000 followers. “It has a more lurid set of connotations and shifts the debate to sexualization.” Ari Drennen, LGBTQ program director for Media Matters for America, told the Grid online news outlet that she feared this rhetoric swirling among the conspiracy-saturated right would soon turn violent, comparing it to the QAnon collective delusion. “If they’re going to give the location of Pride events while saying falsely, ‘Hey, this is where the pedophilia is happening,’ that’s basically exactly what happened with Pizzagate,” she said.Before the group of white nationalists arrived at the Pride event in Idaho earlier this month, the function was highlighted by local conservative media and @LibsOfTikTok, among others. @LibsOfTikTok also drew attention to a drag queen story hour event at a library in Alameda, California, less than two weeks before a group of Proud Boys members turned up and began yelling anti-gay slurs. One of the men wore a T-shirt with an image of an AR-15 and the phrase "Kill your local pedophile." The incident is now being investigated as a hate crime.Sarah Kate Ellis, CEO of GLAAD, has said that much like the link between lies about the 2020 election led to the assault on the Capitol, anti-LGBTQ rhetoric on the political right is manifesting a “dangerous climate.” GLAAD’s survey found that more than half of all transgender people feel unsafe walking in their own neighborhood, and not without cause: In 2021, the HRC identified at least 57 transgender or gender-nonconforming people who were killed — a record high.“There are folks out there who are primed to answer what they see as social questions with violence,” Oakley with the HRC said. “And to feed those folks the kind of rhetoric that politicians fed them this year, is giving them a license to behave in exactly the way they want to, which is with violence, with anger, with disrespect. And that's the last thing that our country needs right now.”“It’s a really scary thing for LGBTQ folks, particularly who want to be able to gather and be together during Pride,” Oakley said.This social and political regression for the LGBTQ community is not without precedent, according to Eric Cervini, a historian of LGBTQ politics who was a Pulitzer finalist for his book The Deviant’s War: The Homosexual vs. the United States of America. Cervini noted that 1970s conservative campaigner Anita Bryant rose to prominence by riding outrage in response to a Miami-Dade antidiscrimination ordinance.Gay people being used as political scapegoats and distractions are nothing new, Cervini said, but he believes much of the current pushback is coming from an older generation who feels threatened by younger people’s more accepting views.“History itself is cyclical. Even progress itself is always three steps forward, two steps back,” Cervini said. “It’s going to happen. Whenever you see progress, folks are going to be disturbed by it.”Cervini, 30, said he can’t recall a Pride Month in his lifetime that feels so urgent.“Having studied previous Pride Months before I was even born, there are definitely echoes in a lot of the rhetoric and a lot of the scary stuff that we’re seeing,” he said. “But from my own personal experience, this is a very dark time to be celebrating.” And still, the celebrations will go on. Tens of thousands will enjoy this year’s final weekend of Pride in New York City — the place where the LBGTQ rights movement was born. Organizers say private security will be on hand, in addition to local police, to keep people safe. Even in liberal New York City, the community is in danger. Last week, a man was jailed for five years for stabbing a trans woman he had called a “tranny” in Brooklyn, not far from where a man set fire to a queer nightclub in April.NYC Pride spokesperson Dan Dimant said that this year’s parade felt like an “inflection point” where after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, people were desperate to celebrate but still had no misapprehensions of the urgency of this moment. “It’s kind of the perfect storm,” he said.But Dimant noted that since the very first Pride parade in 1970, the event had served as both a party and a protest, and this year is no different.“This isn’t really new territory for us. I think that the political climate certainly isn’t consistent year after year. The headwinds sort of come and go, so to speak, but we find ourselves in a very challenging environment.” Dimant said. “We’ve been in this place before, and we feel that we’re prepared to deal with any threats that may come their way.”Obergefell also vowed to spend the last weekend of Pride Month celebrating — and defending his civil rights — at his hometown parade in Sandusky, Ohio. "The people at Stonewall, they rioted, they threw bricks, because they were tired of being targeted," Obergefell said. "They they said we are here. We don't deserve this.""Well, it's our time to stand up and be loud and say, 'We are here. We don't deserve this,'" he added. "What we do deserve is to be treated equally, the same way as anyone else, and to enjoy the same rights. We deserve to part of 'We the people.'"● | Civil Rights Activism |
As U.S. senators held a hearing Thursday on American workers' organizing rights, dozens of progressive organizations announced a new coalition to demand that lawmakers pass the PRO Act.Motherboard reports that "the grassroots group, the Worker Power Coalition, is made up of 40 of the most powerful progressive organizations in the United States, across a broad spectrum of issues, including racial justice, electoral politics, [and] environmental activism."The coalition—which includes Communications Workers of America, Democratic Socialists of America, Indivisible, MoveOn, Our Revolution, Sierra Club, Sunrise Movement, and the Working Families Party—"has committed to lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C., actions throughout the summer, and a six-figure digital ad buy," according to the outlet.The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act was reintroduced in February by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) along with House Committee on Education and Labor Chair Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).The pro-labor bill (H.R. 842/S. 420) passed the Democrat-led House in March but has yet to advance in the evenly divided Senate—bolstering calls for Democrats to kill the filibuster.The PRO Act was a key focus of the hearing that Murray's committee held Thursday, entitled, "The Right to Organize: Empowering American Workers in a 21st Century Economy."As Murray's office outlined earlier this year, the PRO Act aims to empower workers by:Bolstering remedies and punishing violations of workers' rights through authorizing meaningful penalties for employers that violate workers' rights, strengthening support for workers who suffer retaliation for exercising their rights, and authorizing a private right of action for violation of workers' rights;Strengthening workers' right to join together and negotiate for better working conditions by enhancing workers’ right to support secondary boycotts, ensuring workers can collect "fair share" fees, modernizing the union election process, and facilitating initial collective bargaining agreements; andRestoring fairness to an economy rigged against workers by closing loopholes that allow employers to misclassify their employees as supervisors and independent contractors and increasing transparency in labor-management relations.During Thursday's hearing, Murray highlighted how unions improve the lives of workers—from wages, time off policies, and benefits to health and safety standards and "knowing you have other workers in your corner to help make sure you are treated with respect and dignity in the workplace."Among those who testified (pdf) was Heidi Shierholz of the Economic Policy Institute. The think tank's senior economist and director of policy discussed both "the importance of unions to working people, to racial equity, and to reducing economic inequality" as well as "how the decline in unionization in recent decades is the direct result of relentless attacks on unions."Shierholz concluded with a call for the Senate to pass the PRO Act, which "addresses many of the major shortcomings with our current law." Doing so, she said, "would help restore workers' ability to organize with their co-workers and negotiate for better pay, benefits, and fairness on the job, and it would reduce racial disparities and help halt and reverse skyrocketing inequality.""The large gap between the share of workers who want a union and the share of workers who are in a union underscores that our system of labor laws is not working," she emphasized. "Fundamental reform is required to rebuild an economy that guarantees all workers the right to come together and have a voice in their workplace and no longer leaves most workers behind.""Meaningful policy changes like the PRO Act," Shierholz said, "are crucial for restoring a fair balance of power between workers and employers."Members of the new coalition shared similar messages on Thursday."We need unions because they spark an understanding within the larger zeitgeist of America that when we come together, we are powerful and can pool influence to decide who gets elected and influence their decisions," MoveOn executive director Rahna Epting told Motherboard.Nelini Stamp, director of strategy and partnerships for the Working Families Party, said that "we want to build a multi-racial working class democracy but that's really, really hard.""We can't reach it without people who have rights in their workplace," Stamp said. | Civil Rights Activism |
Singer Olivia Rodrigo used her performance at the U.K.’s Glastonbury Festival over the weekend to slam the Supreme Court in the wake of the bombshell ruling to overturn Roe v Wade. Taking the stage with fellow singer Lily Allen, the “Driver’s License” performer denounced the 6-3 decision to strike down the 50-year-old constitutional right to abortion. Rodrigo said she was “heartbroken,” “devastated” and “terrified” over the ruling, adding, “so many women and so many girls are going to die because of this.” Rodrigo joined Allen in singing her 2009 hit song titled “F*** You,” dedicating it to the conservative members of the Supreme Court who showed they “don’t give a s**t about freedom.” She added, “This song goes out to the justices: Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh. We hate you!” Rodrigo condemned the leaked Supreme Court decision prior to it being finalized during a concert in Washington, D.C. last month. “I hope we can use our voices to protect our rights to have a safe abortion, which is a right that so many people before us have worked so hard to get,” she told the audience at the time. Rodrigo’s abortion rights activism comes a year after she visited the White House to promote youth COVID-19 vaccination. Tags olivia rodrigo olivia rodrigo olivia rodrigo roe v wade rove v wade | Civil Rights Activism |
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday sentenced Derek Chauvin to 21 years in prison for violating George Floyd’s civil rights, a move that adds a few years to the time the former Minneapolis police officer is already serving for his murder conviction while transferring him to federal custody.U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson’s sentence came after Chauvin had agreed to a plea deal that called for a sentence ranging from 20 to 25 years. Federal prosecutors had sought the top end of that range, arguing that Chauvin, who is white, killed Floyd in cold blood when he pinned the Black man to the pavement outside a Minneapolis corner store on May 25, 2020, for more than 9 minutes as Floyd pleaded that he could not breathe.Chauvin’s attorney had sought 20 years, arguing that Chauvin was remorseful.During Thursday’s hearing, Chauvin told Floyd’s family that he “wishes all the best” for Floyd’s children. But Chauvin’s brief remarks included no direct apology or expression of remorse to Floyd’s family.Chauvin is already serving a 22 1/2-year sentence on state charges of murder and manslaughter.The plea deal called for Chauvin to serve the sentences at the same time and to be transferred from a Minnesota state prison to a federal prison, where experts say he likely will be safer and may be held under less restrictive conditions.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Derek Chauvin will learn his sentence Thursday for violating George Floyd’s civil rights, with a deal in place that will extend the time the former Minneapolis police officer already is spending behind bars for killing Floyd while shifting him to possibly more favorable conditions in a federal prison.Chauvin agreed to a sentence of 20 to 25 years in his December plea to a federal charge in Floyd’s killing. U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson, who will make the final decision, started the hearing by announcing that “a number of people” wish to speak.Prosecutors are seeking the full 25 on the grounds that Chauvin’s actions were cold-blooded and needless. They also noted that Chauvin’s plea included an admission that he violated the rights of a Black 14-year-old whom he restrained in an unrelated case in 2017, and argued that he had a history of misusing restraints. The defense has asked for 20 years, saying Chauvin accepts responsibility for what he did and has already been sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison by a state court in Floyd’s murder. Attorney Eric Nelson wrote that Chauvin’s “remorse will be made apparent to this Court,” suggesting Chauvin will likely speak at Thursday’s hearing.Former U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger said a judge could take such a statement into consideration during sentencing.“This is his opportunity to say, ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, I didn’t think, or whatever,’” Heffelfinger said. “In federal court it’s very much to the inmate’s advantage to be remorseful, and to demonstrate remorse, even more than at a state sentencing.”Chauvin briefly addressed Floyd’s family at his state sentencing hearing in May 2021, offering condolences. In entering his federal plea, Chauvin for the first time admitted that he kept his knee on Floyd’s neck — even as the Black man pleaded, “I can’t breathe,” and then became unresponsive — resulting in Floyd’s death. Chauvin, who is white, admitted he willfully deprived Floyd of his right to be free from unreasonable seizure, including unreasonable force by a police officer, during the May 2020 arrest.Floyd’s killing sparked protests in Minneapolis and around the world in a reckoning over police brutality and racism.That was one of several cases mentioned in state court filings that prosecutors said showed Chauvin used neck or head and upper body restraints seven times dating back to 2014, including four times state prosecutors said they went beyond the point force was needed.For his own protection, Chauvin has been held in isolation in a 10-by-10-foot room at the state’s maximum security prison that he’s allowed to leave for an average of one hour per day for exercise. Defense attorney Eric Nelson said in a court filing last month that Chauvin might never be placed in a prison’s general population because of the risks of him becoming a target.Chauvin’s plea deal calls for him to serve the federal sentence at the same time as the state one, and to serve it in federal prison. He’s expected to serve more time behind bars than he would have faced on the state sentence alone. However, experts say Chauvin might be safer, and live under fewer restrictions, in a federal prison. His security level and final destination will be up to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, which could send him anywhere in the country.Chauvin would run the risk in the general population of a Minnesota state prison of encountering inmates he had arrested or investigated. While he can’t totally escape his notoriety in a federal prison elsewhere, he’s unlikely to encounter inmates with whom he has a direct connection. If the bureau decides he’s safe enough in the general population, he would have more opportunities to move about the facility, to work and to participate in programming.With credit for good time in the federal system, he could serve anywhere from 17 years to 21 1/4 years behind bars, assuming the judge sticks to the range in the plea agreement. In the state system alone, Chauvin could have become entitled to parole after about 15 years.Three other former Minneapolis police officers — Tou Thao, J. Alexander Keung and Thomas Lane — were convicted in February of federal civil rights charges in Floyd’s killing. Magnuson has not set sentencing dates for them. Lane is also due to be sentenced Sept. 21 after pleading guilty in state court to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. Thao and Kueng turned down plea deals and are due to be tried in state court Oct. 24 on aiding and abetting charges. | Civil Rights Activism |
U.S. July 6, 2022 / 9:59 AM / AP The Department of Justice on Tuesday sued Arizona over a new law requiring people who use a federal form to register to vote to provide additional proof of citizenship if they want to vote for president or using the state's popular vote-by-mail system.The law signed by Republican Gov. Doug Ducey on March 30 is in direct conflict with a 1993 federal voter registration law and also violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Justice Department says. The law adds requirements for the federal form directly rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court in a 2013 Arizona case.The Republican-controlled Legislature was well aware of the federal law and the Supreme Court decision written by the late conservative icon, Justice Antonin Scalia. But they went ahead anyway, arguing the new law would boost election security. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the department's civil rights division called the new law that goes into effect in January "a textbook violation of the National Voter Registration Act." She said the National Voter Registration Act has helped eliminate requirements that make it hard to register to vote. "Arizona has passed a law that turns the clock back on progress by imposing unlawful and unnecessary requirements that would block eligible voters from the registration rolls for certain federal elections," Clarke said in a statement.The law violates the Civil Right Act by requiring election officials to reject registration forms if they contain a mistake or leave out information that is not needed to determine someone's right to vote, she said. Ducey said in a March 30 signing letter that the law is designed to address a growing number of voters who registered using the federal form who did not have to provide proof that they are citizens. The state's voters added the citizenship proof requirement in 2004 when they enacted Proposition 200, but it does not apply to the federal form.The federal form requires a person to swear they are a citizen, but there is no proof requirement. Those who register using the form and do not respond to election officials' request for citizenship proof are only allowed to vote in federal elections. In 2020, just over 11,600 people were federal-only voters, but the number has since risen. Since the Supreme Court decision, Arizona has allowed those using the form who have not provided citizenship proof to vote only in federal elections. Ducey spokesman C.J. Karamargin declined to comment, saying the administration doesn't comment on litigation. The state's Republican Attorney General Mark Brnovich, who is running for U.S. Senate, told the Justice Department in a July 1 letter that he would defend the law to the fullest. The Legislature's own lawyers told lawmakers that much of the measure was unconstitutional, directly contradicts the 2013 Supreme Court decision and is likely to be thrown out in court. It passed with support from only majority Republicans.The Justice Department lawsuit is the third to be filed challenging the law since it was passed. Voting rights groups filed the first two challenges, which have been merged into one case. In: Lawsuit Supreme Court of the United States Arizona Voting civil rights Elections Voting Rights Antonin Scalia Crime Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue | Civil Rights Activism |
Mother Jones illustration; Getty Fight disinformation: Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily newsletter and follow the news that matters.In 2010, a group of anti-choice activists sent several complaints to Iowa’s medical board, demanding the agency end a popular telemedicine abortion program. Run by Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, the program helped patients in rural clinics access safe medication for ending their pregnancies without traveling hours to a city. The anti-choice activists claimed, inaccurately, that not having a doctor physically present to hand people the pills was a threat to patients’ safety. At the time, the medical board wasn’t swayed. It closed the complaints without taking disciplinary action against Planned Parenthood’s physicians.
But that changed after Republican Terry Branstad, an abortion foe, reclaimed the Iowa governorship that November. In Iowa, as in many other states, medical board members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. Over the next couple of years, Branstad nominated replacements for all 10 members, installing an anti-abortion doctor who became board chair. Another Branstad appointee, a Catholic priest, had campaigned against the Planned Parenthood program, once arguing in a board meeting that the medical board ought to “uphold the fundamental value of human life from the moment of conception.” In 2013, with the board full of Branstad’s picks, the anti-choice activists revived their old cause. This time, the medical board banned telemedicine abortion everywhere in the state. Planned Parenthood’s program in Iowa was ultimately allowed to continue after the organization sued the state medical board. But the episode showed how easily these boards can be weaponized for anti-abortion causes.
Medical boards, which issue licenses to doctors and discipline those who break state laws, are “seen and assumed to be nonpartisan,” says Mai Fleming, a California-based family physician who holds licenses in 17 states. “The hope is that they look at a person’s medical application with unbiased eyes and really evaluate the merit of the provider.”
But a closer look reveals boards that are stacked with Republican political donors in states that have recently tightened restrictions on abortion. Across the 12 states with total or near-total abortion bans as of July 31, more than half of medical board seats were held by people who had given at least $1,000 apiece to Republican campaigns, according to campaign finance data accessed through the National Institute on Money in Politics analyzed by Mother Jones. An estimated 70 percent are men. In the post–Roe v. Wade reality, boards long seen as doctors’ allies are being recast as something to fear: panels of political appointees armed with wide-reaching abortion bans and the power to strip doctors of their licenses. “The more zealous people you get on the board who have extreme views, the more likely it is that the state medical board is going to more tightly aligned with the other arms of the government and go after physicians,” says Adarsh Krishen, chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio. It’s already happening: In Texas, which is ruled by an anti-choice governor and attorney general, Operation Rescue—an anti-choice activist group known for its militant tactics—filed a complaint last September going after the license of Dr. Alan Braid, who publicly defied the state’s six-week abortion ban. While prosecutors in states with criminal abortion laws must convince juries “beyond a reasonable doubt” to convict a doctor, medical boards can typically use a lower standard of proof to take away a physician’s credentials.
“You get a little bit more nervous and anxious when you start to see the state passing regulations restricting medical care,” Krishen says. “Then what’s the next step? The medical board saying, ‘Did you comply?’ And if not, now it’s going to come for your license.”
In some states, medical boards are being used as the muscle behind new restrictions: Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has said that enforcement of his state’s abortion ban would be “done by the State Board of Medical Licensure.” Even though some local prosecutors have pledged not to file criminal charges against those providing abortions, the prospect of medical board discipline alone may be enough to scare doctors away from delivering much-needed care.
State medical boards have existed since the mid-1800s, when the market for doctors was crowded with healers, midwives, and quacks. Physicians lobbied to create a government-run medical licensing system that would set them apart from those they considered frauds—protecting patient safety, at least in theory, while padding doctors’ pockets.
Today, members are typically physicians themselves, along with a handful of non-doctors tasked with representing consumer interests. Almost universally, the board members are appointed by governors—a system that has turned some seats into plum awards for campaign supporters and ideological allies.
Look no further than Ohio, where 8 in 12 medical board members have given money to Republican politicians. A decade ago, pain doctor Amol Soin gifted $5,000 to Republican John Kasich during his 2010 run for governor. When Kasich won, he appointed Soin to the state’s medical board, where he remains today. Soin has given about $40,000 to current Republican Gov. Mike DeWine and his lieutenant, Jon Husted.
While in office, Kasich acquired a reputation for appointing anti-abortion figures to high-ranking positions in state leadership, including in the Department of Health. One anti-abortion holdover from the Kasich era is Mike Gonidakis, a 48-year-old lobbyist who for 10 years has served simultaneously as the president of Ohio Right to Life and a state medical board member.
Gonidakis has long tried to swat away claims that his advocacy creates a conflict of interests on the medical board. Like other anti-abortion groups all over the country, Ohio Right to Life is involved in filing official complaints against abortion-providing doctors and clinics. In 2016, when Gonidakis was chairing the board, an Ohio Right to Life affiliate in Dayton complained about three Ohio doctors, claiming they had forced an abortion on an incapacitated patient. Ohio Right to Life publicized the allegations, and at first, Gonidakis told journalists he did not plan to recuse himself from hearing the case. After liberal groups complained, he relented. (The medical board reportedly closed the case without discipline for the doctors involved, and the Ohio Ethics Commission found Gonidakis had acted within the bounds of the law.)
Catherine Romanos, a family doctor who has been providing abortion care in Ohio since 2013, says Gonidakis’ presence on the board creates an “environment of fear” among providers and sends physicians the message that the medical board is “not an unbiased licensure organization.” (Gonidikas did not respond to a request for comment.) While Krishen says he’s yet to see the Ohio medical board discriminate against abortion providers, he adds that doctors are loath to voice complaints due to the medical boards’ power.
“The physicians who provide abortion care in Ohio are already targeted in a variety of ways for doing our job,” Romanos says. “To feel like you’re working really hard to make sure you’re following the law perfectly, but the body that supplies your license maybe is biased in this way, or has board members who are clearly not neutral? It’s unsettling.”
Last month, DeWine announced he would be reappointing Gonidakis to the board for another five-year term—a decision that sparked outcry not only for Gonidakis’ anti-abortion activism but also for his vocal skepticism about public health precautions during the Covid-19 pandemic. “This nomination is dangerous and puts lives at risk,” Iris Harvey, CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, said in statement after DeWine’s announcement. Currently, Ohio law bans abortion after six weeks—recently leading a pediatrician to refer a pregnant 10-year-old who had survived rape to neighboring Indiana to get an abortion. Gonidakis has already indicated his willingness to go after doctors’ licenses for violating the state’s abortion bans. “The state medical board does not need the county prosecutor or a prosecution to revoke a doctor’s license,” he recently told the Columbus Dispatch. “If a prosecutor refuses to prosecute, the medical board can still take action on the license.”
That possibility is enough to send a chill through the medical community. “Doctors are rule followers,” says Romanos, in Columbus, Ohio. “When we don’t know what the rules are, we back off.” These days, she’s seeing a tenth of the patients she otherwise would, due to the state restriction banning abortion after fetal cardiac activity is detectable, around the six-week mark of pregnancy.
Even when faced with patients with ectopic pregnancies—which are never viable and always require treatment—some doctors are afraid to provide appropriate care in case they are accused of breaking the abortion law by accident, Romanos says. Recently, the clinic where she works received calls from two patients with ectopic pregnancies who said their doctors had declined to treat them and sent them to her clinic instead. “They know that we know the laws better than anyone,” she says. “It gets so confusing when you criminalize routine care. Even really well-meaning doctors are just scared.”
Though medical board discipline happens state by state, it’s designed to follow a doctor throughout her career. Malpractice insurers and prospective employers must be informed of it, along with medical boards in other states where she holds a medical license. Those other boards can then open their own investigations, and impose their own discipline.
That policy makes sense for stopping abusive or incompetent doctors from hopping from state to state, but now raises the possibility that abortion providers will face blowback even in states where abortion is legal, according to Fleming. Last year, after Texas implemented a six-week abortion ban, Fleming stopped her monthly trips to work at an abortion clinic there for fear of facing penalties that could affect her whole practice. The ban, she says, “forced me to be in a position where I felt I was abandoning a cohort of my patients, in order to continue to be able to serve other patients.”
Some left-leaning states are starting to take steps to limit the damage medical boards can do to doctors across states. In Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis issued an executive order telling the Colorado medical board not cooperate with investigations into doctors accused of breaking another state’s abortion law, as long as doctors’ actions followed Colorado medical standards. In California, a similar bill is making its way through the state legislature. And there are other steps boards could theoretically take—like using their discretion to avoid pursuing some abortion-related complaints. (In Indiana, which passed a sweeping abortion ban on Friday, lawmakers were apparently concerned about this possibility: Part of their new law explicitly requires the board to revoke licenses from doctors found likely to have illegally provided an abortion.)
Another way medical boards could wield their power is by defending—or opting not to defend—the way licensed doctors practice medicine in a state. Last month, the Texas Medical Association sent a letter to the state medical board requesting that it protect doctors’ ability to provide medically necessary treatment, including abortion, to patients with severe pregnancy complications. (Texas abortion laws contain narrow exceptions to save a pregnant patient’s life or prevent “substantial impairment of major bodily function,” as the Texas Tribune explains.) The medical association’s letter, first reported by the Dallas Morning News, said it had received complaints of hospital lawyers and administrators stopping doctors from providing appropriate treatment to some pregnant patients. It asked the Texas board to “swiftly act to prevent any wrongful intrusion into the practice of medicine.” According to Tim Weitz, a former general counsel for the Texas Medical Board who now represents doctors in disciplinary proceedings, the board could potentially protect these doctors by issuing cease-and-desist orders to the lawyers and administrators for practicing medicine without a license.
But will they? The board has yet to make any public statement on the question of interfering with doctors during medical emergencies—or on abortion in general—since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. But it’s not hard to speculate on its likely stance, given its members’ close ties to Gov. Greg Abbott. (Abbott has been fighting federal guidance that ensures emergency room patients get the medical treatment they need, including abortions). Forty percent of medical board members in Texas have gifted Abbott at least $10,000 for his various campaigns—including textile CEO Arun Agarwal, who gave Abbott $132,000 before being appointed in 2019 and has given him over $63,000 since then. “A lot of the board members will have been donors for the governor, and that’s how they got there,” Weitz says. As KXAN reporter Matt Walsh has documented, Abbott has not removed one board member, Dr. Satish Nayak, despite the board citing him for failing to keep adequate medical records; Nayak has given Abbott $32,920. As Abbott continues his campaign to make Texas as hostile as possible to those seeking to terminate pregnancies, he can likely count the state medical board as an ally.
Fleming, who ended her practice in Texas, today provides abortion pills through a telehealth service to patients in states where remotely prescribing the medicine is legal. In April, she started the lengthy and expensive process of applying for her eighteenth medical license, in Oklahoma. (The Oklahoma board, which is 90 percent male, includes a Chevrolet dealership owner who’s donated nearly $100,000 to Republicans.) Fleming says her application was in the final stages of review when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Soon, the Oklahoma Medical Board asked her to appear before them in-person—an unusual request that Fleming fears might have something to do with her area of practice. “There’s no way for me to know what their reasoning is, and it’s perfectly in their rights to do this,” she says. “But I worry about the degree of scrutiny that has come up, and whether or not that it has to do with the fact that it is known, based on my CV, that I am an abortion provider.”
If her application is denied, it could have ripple effects on her insurance and employment prospects. But she’s continuing the process, she says, out of hope—“to have the availability and opportunity to have that license if something changes in the future.” | Civil Rights Activism |
Tensions erupted between police and demonstrators during protests over the weekend in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the constitutional right to abortions. A number of GOP-led states, mostly in the South and Midwest, quickly implemented laws banning or restricting abortions, while many Democrat-led states have moved forward with measures to protect abortion access. While many protests were peaceful, protesters were arrested in states including South Carolina and Oregon after the Friday decision, while police also used force while confronting demonstrators in states such as Arizona and California. Six demonstrators arrested in South Carolina Six demonstrators were arrested on charges stemming from interfering with police, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest during protests in Greenville. In a statement on Sunday, the Greenville Police Department (GPD) said that its officers monitored separate pro and anti-abortion demonstrations in the city. The department added that about 400 to 500 people showed up for the demonstration, saying that arrests happened when some demonstrators interfered with the arrest of another protester. “On several occasions, officers had to address people in the roadway and parties from one side trying to go over to another,” the department said in a statement to The Hill. “The picket was deemed an unlawful assembly, and officers dispersed both sides,” GPD added. Ten demonstrators arrested in Oregon Oregon authorities said they arrested ten protesters who were a part of a large crowd in what has been called a “night of rage” on Friday night. In a statement, Eugene Police Department (EPD) said that protesters and police clashed at a local medical center, where a crowd of some 75 people had gathered wearing all-black clothing, with some picking up rocks and wearing gas masks. “An officer used a public address system to admonish the group of more than 75 people that they were committing disorderly conduct and were subject to arrest,” the department said in a news release. “This had no effect on the crowd and they advanced closer to officers. Unknown people in the crowd threw smoke bombs at officers along with several filled water bottles.” Authorities said that some protesters resisted, leading officers to shoot inert pepper balls at demonstrators’ feet. Nine people were charged with disorderly conduct, with one being additionally charged with escape in the third degree and resisting arrest. Another demonstrator was charged with harassment. Rhode Island candidate ends campaign after protest incident Jeann Lugo (R), a local police officer, was seen on video striking Jennifer Rourke (D), his opponent in a state Senate race, at a Roe v. Wade protest on Friday. Rourke wrote on Twitter that Lugo had “violently attacked” her, saying, “This is what it is to be a Black woman running for office. I won’t give up.” In a statement, the Providence Police Department (PPD) said that Lugo has been placed on administrative leave with pay as it investigates the matter. The department also said that Lugo was charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct. Lugo said in his own statement that the incident was “very chaotic”. “As an officer that swore to protect and serve our communities, I, unfortunately, saw myself in a situation that no individual should see themselves in,” Lugo told the Boston Globe. “I stepped in to protect someone that a group of agitators was attacking.” However, Lugo on Saturday announced he was ending his Senate campaign. Tear gas used against protesters in Arizona Arizona state troopers launched tear gas canisters at thousands of protesters gathers outside the state capitol building on Friday night. Officials and protesters issues conflicting narratives about what led to the police action, according to the Washington Post. Republican Senate President Karen Fann described the protest as an attempted insurrection, while protest leaders call it an overreaction against a crowd made up mostly of people opposed to the Supreme Court’s decision. Republican Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita took videos of the scene and told the Associated Press the protesters were trying to break the windows into the Capitol building. “There was no other conclusion than they were interested in being violent,” she said. “I have no other takeaway than that. Rep. Athena Salman (D) said on Twitter that those gassed were peaceful, noting that many of her Democratic colleagues recently voted to raise police pay. “Some even called it historic,” she wrote. “Remember that every time the cops gas peaceful protesters.” Actress Jodie Sweetin shoved by police at protest in LA Actress Jodie Sweetin, known for her portrayal of Stephanie Tanner on the hit television sitcom “Full House,” was shoved by authorities during an abortion protest on Sunday. A video surfaced online showed the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) blocking a group of demonstrators at a highway, where a couple of officers are seen pushing back Sweetin, 40, who was holding a megaphone, onto the ground. In a statement, LAPD told NBC Los Angeles that officers responding to the scene were trying to prevent the group from overtaking the 101 freeway. “The force used will be evaluated against the LAPD’s policy and procedure,” the department said in a statement. In a statement through her publicist, Sweetin said that she will continue to fight for rights, NBC Los Angeles reported. “Our activism will continue until our voices are heard and action is taken. This will not deter us, we will continue fighting for our rights. We are not free until ALL of us are free,” she said. | Civil Rights Activism |
Maine has violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by sending children with disabilities to mental health facilities as it fails to meet their needs in the community, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Wednesday. In a press release, the DOJ said it concluded an investigation that found the state system “unnecessarily” segregated children with mental or physical disabilities from their communities by sending them to psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment facilities and a juvenile detention center called Long Creek Youth Development Center in Portland. The DOJ said children with disabilities are more likely to be institutionalized in Maine because of difficulties in accessing behavioral health and other basic needs in the community. Kristen Clarke, the assistant attorney general at the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, said “children with disabilities deserve the opportunity to live at home with the services they need and grow up in the community alongside their nondisabled peers.” “With the increase in children’s mental health needs during the pandemic, it is more important than ever to provide support to children and families,” she said in a statement. The DOJ launched the investigation on behalf of advocacy organization Disability Rights Maine, which accused Maine of violating the ADA because it failed to address the basic needs of children with disabilities and institutionalized them as a result. In a statement, Disability Rights Maine noted the findings were released on the 23rd anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Olmstead v. L.C. In that case, the high court ruled that under the 1990 ADA, people with disabilities have a right to live in the most “integrated setting” that suits their needs. “The Olmstead decision held that people with disabilities have a right to live and receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs — typically in their homes and communities instead of in institutions,” the organization wrote. In a letter to Gov. Janet Mills (D) and Attorney General Aaron Frey (D), Clarke wrote of a “troubling picture” in the state. Children with disabilities sit on lengthy waitlists to access community-based services to address their needs, she wrote, forcing families to turn to law enforcement or emergency services after a crisis. According to Clarke, crisis services are underfunded and understaffed — as are foster care systems — making it still more difficult for the basic needs of children with disabilities to be met within their communities. The DOJ also faulted the state for using Long Creek Youth Development Center, the only juvenile detention center in the state, to serve as a “de facto children’s psychiatric facility” instead of offering treatment in more integrated settings. Clarke wrote in her letter that “Maine has long been on notice for these problems” and called on state leaders to address the waitlists and boost resources and services to address the needs of children with disabilities in the community. “For years, the State has acknowledged that a lack of community-based services for children with behavioral health needs leads to their unnecessary institutionalization,” Clarke wrote. “Despite this recognition, the day-to-day experiences of many families struggling to get off a waitlist or bring their child home from an institution remains unchanged.” | Civil Rights Activism |
“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.” General Order No. 3 June, 19, 1865 Embraced by Vice President Harris, touched by President Biden and surrounded by members of Congress, ... [+] 94-year-old activist and educator Opal Lee witnesses the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act coming to fruition. Getty Images One hundred and fifty-six years ago, enslaved people in Texas received official word that they were free. General Gordon Granger and thousands of Union Army soldiers arrived in Galveston to share the news. Four words marked the moment: “all slaves are free.” Two hundred fifty thousand enslaved people in Texas received this news. It came, two and a half months after Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 and two months after Lee’s surrender at Appomattox in April 1865. Despite the delayed nature of this information, freedom was met with celebration and jubilee. Formerly enslaved people packed their clothes, left the sites of enslavement, and started life anew. They married, went to school, and sought paid employment. Some spent the early years of freedom looking for relatives stolen by the auction block and placed information wanted advertisements hoping to reconnect with kin. Others remained on the farm or plantation and kept working just like they did during slavery. Every year in Texas from 1866 forward, they celebrated Juneteenth through festivals, parades, oral history, essay and poetry contests. They saw this day as a day to reflect on surviving slavery and celebrating freedom. This week, President Biden made Juneteenth (June 19th) a federal holiday. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, established in 1983, was the last federal holiday created nearly 40 years ago. Some are asking: what does all of this mean? What’s next? How will we celebrate Juneteenth? The answers to these questions are simple. Education. Now is the time to educate ourselves about the history of slavery and freedom in the United States. It is a time to explore an institution that shaped our economic, political, and social systems for hundreds of years. We have an opportunity to start a national conversation about history. But some are asking questions like, what will we teach our children? How will educators adapt their lesson plans? In what ways will school boards shape this conversation? The first lesson should include the fact that Africans were free before they were enslaved. They came from advanced and complex societies. They were Fulani, Ibo, Kongo, Bambara, Wolof, Akan, Ga, and Coromantee people (to name a few,) before they were captured and sold into slavery. Warfare, drought, and enslavement changed the course of their lives and shaped world history. Educators have the opportunity to create more inclusive history lessons, school board members have the opportunity to revise state standards, and teachers have the opportunity to explore new areas of curriculum. After the MLK holiday, textbook companies incorporated more robust discussions of the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements in order to place King in context of American History. Elementary and secondary educators developed lesson plans that incorporated Kings’ speeches, writings, and activism as we recognized him as an important national figure. Now that Juneteenth is a holiday, we will work to create a national syllabus to study the history of slavery in the United States. Like with King, we should study the writings of slavery such as narratives from the formerly enslaved, extant speeches as well as poetry and art. We can explore other artifacts that provide insight into this rich history of slavery and freedom. I imagine that we will learn about a difficult chapter in American history through education, celebration, and commemoration. Modern festivities that began as a state holiday in Texas in 1980 are now becoming popular in 49 states and are known as Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, or Liberation Day. This week I had the pleasure of meeting the 94-year-old Fort Worth resident, Ms. Opal Lee, who took up the cause of making Juneteenth a national holiday. What a day of jubilee this is for her. She spent her adult life marching, campaigning, and now witnessing this important milestone come to pass. Let’s honor Ms. Opal and honor the contributions of those who were enslaved, by using this national holiday to grow our knowledge of our history and heal as a nation.
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The Supreme Court’s ruling Friday eliminating the constitutional right to an abortion puts unprecedented pressure on businesses to lead in reproductive rights, similar to how they’ve had to step up on mental health, caregiving, and racial justice in earnest over the past few years. It’s an understatement to say that few business leaders have sought out this role. But reproductive rights, in addition to being essential legal protections, are undeniably a workplace issue that they shouldn’t ignore. Access to abortion is access to healthcare, and essential to the physical, emotional, and financial well-being and safety of women and pregnant people. A majority of Americans supports a legal right to an abortion, and polling suggests that about two-thirds of college-educated workers wouldn’t take a job in a state with an abortion ban. In what is still a tight job market, studies have shown clearly that retention and engagement suffer when employers don’t speak out publicly on issues workers believe are important. Human-resources leaders are now scrambling to put together policies to support their employees. (More details below.) Friday’s ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization will weigh most heavily on those who have already suffered the most in the pandemic—women, people of color, parents already facing soaring child-care costs and inadequate child-care leave policies, trans and nonbinary people who struggle to access reproductive care. Companies that support their workers’ abortion rights risk being attacked by Republican politicians. Once a staunch supporter of big business, the GOP is now targeting companies that speak out on societal issues. Florida governor and possible presidential candidate Ron DeSantis took on Disney; former vice president and possible presidential candidate Mike Pence decried “woke capitalism.” Senator Marco Rubio has already proposed the “No Tax Breaks for Radical Corporate Activism Act,” which bars employers from writing off the costs to pay for abortion-related travel or gender-affirming care for their children. In light of Friday’s ruling, we talked to experts who have studied corporate action on societal issues. Here are their reactions, edited for space and for clarity: Most companies won’t make a statement. Paul A. Argenti, professor of corporate communication at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business Abortion rights are different than some of the other issues you can talk about, like LGBTQ [rights] or Black Lives Matter, in that a good solid 40% of people completely disagree that abortion rights should be legal. In a world like that, if you’re willing to take the heat, go for it. Most companies are not when push comes to shove….If you’re not willing to fight the good fight with those 40%, you’re in for a really rough ride. Reproductive healthcare is a basic human right. It is not taking a stand. Alison Taylor, executive director of NYU Stern’s Ethical Systems, writing a book on how business can do the right thing in a turbulent world I would argue that reproductive healthcare is a basic human right, and also key to many companies being able to attract and retain employees. I would also argue that pluralistic, liberal values make sense for almost all Western corporations, which means respect for everyone’s values and beliefs, even if they are different from yours. That would mean that anti-abortion employees would not be able to impose their views on pro-choice employees. Pro-choice employees are not seeking to impose their views on their colleagues—if you don’t want reproductive healthcare, don’t use it. It is perfectly fine to provide reproductive healthcare or any other benefit without also ‘taking a stand.’ I would limit the use of corporate speaking up and CEO activism to a tiny number of business-relevant issues. Employees should be allowed, within reason (no egregious racism, etc.) to express their personal views and use their personal time and salary to support whatever causes or politicians they like. Shift the conversation from politics to how the organization is caring for its employees. Erika Seth Davies, CEO of Rhia Ventures, a social-impact investment firm focused on reproductive health Reframe the conversation as an affirmation of support for the workforce. Reposition this as healthcare and just reiterate that over and over again, as a company that ensures access to healthcare for employees. The most tactical thing companies can do right now is [ask], ‘How do we take care of our workforce?’ That includes making sure that they’re ensuring coverage and abortion access for any reason, making sure they have policies in place if they have operations or employees in states where it’s about to be severely limited, providing travel vouchers or subsidizing travel. They definitely need to make sure employees who would like to relocate are able to do so, and that if they have employees that need abortion care, that they’re supported with adequate paid time off. This is part of a spectrum of reproductive healthcare: Do they have contraception coverage beyond Affordable Care Act requirements? Comprehensively, what does it look like for your company to support women and birthing people? Because so much of coverage in this country comes from employers, corporate responsibility is now the backstop in terms of access to abortion care. It’s not a comfortable position for companies or women to be in, but this is where we are… The idea that being attacked or people saying mean things [about your company] is worse than not being able to access healthcare is not an effective case. The world has changed overnight. If you haven’t heard from your employees on this issue before, you will now. Nancy Northup, president, Center for Reproductive Rights Whatever someone was doing yesterday, today is a new day. The landscape of what employers are going to hear from their employees in those states, what they will hear from other people who support their brands, has changed. [Customers and employees] are going to expect them to take a stand on one of the most horrific reversals of a right we’ve seen in this country. So I think it’s going to be a new day. Companies have just begun thinking about this issue. I expect a lot of change and development. | Civil Rights Activism |
Shequitta Kelly was a straight-A student when her high school counselor told her she couldn’t go to law school.The white adult in Michigan City, Ind. told the then 15-year-old Kelly, who is Black and was pregnant at the time, that she should settle on a trade instead.Perhaps she could be a beautician, Kelly recalled the counselor suggesting.Now a judge in one of Dallas County’s criminal courts, Kelly said Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to be confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court, reminds her of one of the most difficult times in her own life.Fifteen years ago, criminal courts in Dallas County were dominated by white men and women. Today, more than half the criminal courts judges in the Frank Crowley Courts Building are Black and most are women.To Kelly, Jackson’s advancement to the nation’s highest court on Thursday is symbolic of overcoming.Criminal court Judge Shequitta Kelly (G.J. McCarthy/The Dallas Morning News)Related:History made: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmed as first Black woman on Supreme Court, 53-47Kelly said she could relate when, in the weeks leading up to the Senate’s historic confirmation, Jackson shared that her high school counselor advised her to “set her sights lower” than Harvard University, where she ultimately graduated.“There are going to be other kids that look like her, and that don’t look like her, who are going to have that exact same experience,” Kelly said. “And she’s going to be the reason why they continue moving forward.” Black women who are judges in Dallas County, many of whom are trailblazers in their own rights, said Jackson represents hope – for them, their kids, their profession and their country.“I think that’s every judge’s dream, to be nominated to the highest court,” said Audra Riley, a state district judge in Dallas.Judge Audra Riley of Criminal District Court No. 3, poses for a portrait, Thursday, April, 7, 2022 at Frank Crowley Courts Building in Dallas, Texas. Previously, Riley has spent over 10 years working as an attorney.(Rebecca Slezak / Staff Photographer)Related:Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court confirmation ‘a sign of hope’ in DallasThough she had great role models at home, Riley said, she didn’t see Black women in high occupations in the legal field until she was a prosecutor in the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. That’s when she observed former state district judge Elizabeth Frizell.Frizell was first elected to a Dallas County misdemeanor court in 2006 and a state district felony court in 2014.“To me, she just exemplified what it means to be a Black woman in that position,” Riley said.Dallas County's felony court judges circa 2005. (Courtesy photo)Being told you can be anything you want, and seeing yourself reflected in those spaces are two different things, said Carmen P. White, a criminal court judge. White’s parents always told her she could accomplish anything she set her mind to.Like Jackson, White also graduated from Harvard Law School. The women just missed each other. Jackson graduated in spring 1996 and White arrived on campus that August.White didn’t grow up with Black women role models in the legal field. Even to this day, the shelves in her office hold photos of Black civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. She has mementos of legal pioneers, former associate supreme court justices Thurgood Marshall — the first black justice — and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.Related:From Dreamhouse to courthouse, this Barbie’s no plaything for Dallas judgesBut no Black women — yet — are on her shelves, save for a Black Judge Barbie. She hopes to add a photo of Jackson on the campus of their alma mater.Of all the ways Jackson’s confirmation is meaningful to White, the most important is that she serves as proof to her 13-year-old daughter that she can become whatever she aspires to.Kailyn, White’s daughter, thinks she might want to one day become a lawyer, too.“What was a dream to me gets to be a reality to her,” White said.Judge Carmen White of Criminal Court 8, poses for a portrait in her chambers, Thursday, April, 7, 2022 at Frank Crowley Courts Building in Dallas, Texas. White was elected in 2019 to serve her first term.(Rebecca Slezak / Staff Photographer)Related:The path to confirmation: 8 can’t-miss moments from Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearingThe victory did not come without pain. Kelly said she felt exhaustion for Jackson while watching the Senate Confirmation hearing, in which her qualifications were questioned and her past rulings were attacked.“I knew that process — that painful process that she was going through — was going to birth something beautiful if we can just get that seat,” Kelly said.Judge Tammy Kemp thanks the jury for their service following the 10-year sentence of Amber Guyger at the Frank Crowley Courts Building in Dallas, Wednesday, October 2, 2019. Guyger shot and killed Botham Jean, an unarmed 26-year-old neighbor in his own apartment last year. She told police she thought his apartment was her own and that he was an intruder. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)State District Judge Tammy Kemp said she recognized microaggressions waged against Jackson that she has received “on a daily basis.”Both she and Kelly said they have had to work harder and exercise more patience in the face of, usually, white male lawyers who the judges say have challenged their legal knowledge with attitudes they would not use with other judges.“It’s just part and parcel of being an African American person in America,” said Kemp, who is the first Black person — man or woman — to preside over the 204th District Court.Kemp said that while she hopes change is coming in America, she believes that it will take more time. Seeing Jackson on the bench won’t be enough. It takes interacting with people of different races and cultures to improve society, she said.“While we won’t be interacting with the Supreme Court justice, her other colleagues will,” Kemp said.“And she’ll bring a fresh perspective and she’ll bring some life experiences that might enlighten them on some things they had never thought about.”Related:Here’s what Dallas’ Black female judges say about Jackson’s SCOTUS confirmation | Civil Rights Activism |
Heather Booth was just 18 years old when she joined the civil rights movement. A member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), decades later Booth now says she knew early on that "sometimes you have to stand up to illegitimate authority."For many activists, the civil rights movement spawned other demonstrations like the women's movement, of which many were organizing on different fronts for liberations such as pay equity, childcare and reproductive rights."You have to get a sense of that time period," Fran Beal told ABC News. As an early college student, Beal was a founding member of the SNCC Black Women's Liberation Committee, which would later be recognized as the Third World Women's Alliance. Beal says reproductive rights became a personal priority after hearing her close friend Cordelia died from a back-alley abortion in November 1958.Later on, Beal would have her own near-death experience after receiving an illegal abortion in the late 1950s. "I ended up on a woman's kitchen table and later in the hospital because I had started to bleed so badly. If I hadn't gone to the hospital, I would have died," Beal said.Frances Beal, July 7, 1970, in New York.Howard PetrickAs an organizer, activist and author, Beal later published "Double Jeopardy: To Be Black and Female," exploring the misconceptions of Black women in the U.S. during the 1960s and '70s, fearing that poor women of color were bearing the brunt of illegal abortions in America."We didn't talk about sexual things during that time," Beal said."Speaking about abortion with three or more people was a conspiracy to commit a felony," Booth added.Heather Booth pushing one of her kids in a stroller at the Chicago Women's Liberation Union in about 1970.Chicago Women's Liberation Union Herstory ProjectAs a Chicago college student, Booth found herself assisting a friend's sister in getting an illegal abortion. After soon learning the process, Booth founded Jane Collective, an underground abortion service. At least 100 women counseled and later performed safe underground abortions to nearly 11,000 women before the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973."It wasn't legal then. We need to keep this safe, legal and accessible for all," Booth said.Now, nearly 50 years later, with the Supreme Court's decision looming, former activists such as Beal, now 82, and Booth, now 76, say by using their progress as the blueprint, the fight is up to the next generation.People attend an abortion rights rally protesting the Hyde Amendment and demanding equal rights to abortion, in Boston, 1977. Spencer Grant/Getty ImagesIn early May, a 98-page Supreme Court draft opinion, leaked to Politico, appearing to show a majority of justices ready to overturn Roe v. Wade -- the landmark decision that has protected a woman's right to abortion for nearly five decades."We have women who have not known the right to have an abortion as a part of a reproductive rights agenda," Beal said. "The very fact that it could be overthrown altogether was not something I think was in the forefront of most people's minds. Even activists like myself would follow this pretty closely."Birmingham, Alabama, native Diane Derzis shared that she, too, underwent an abortion procedure. "I thank God every day, I was able to do so safely. And that's what started me on this journey," Derzis told ABC News. "I was able to do what I knew was right for me, and there's never been a moment of regret."Derzis owns and operates abortion clinics across the South, including Jackson Women's Health Clinic -- the lone abortion clinic in Mississippi. The clinic is also at the epicenter of the Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health, which could potentially overturn Roe.Women's liberation groups march down Fifth Avenue and will end with the rally at Bryant Park in New York, Aug. 26, 1970.Bettmann Archive via Getty ImagesFollowing the Roe v. Wade decision, which allowed safe and legal access to abortion across all states, Derzis said she's faced threats over the past 40 years for "following her journey," including in 1998, when she received an alarming call and learned that her first clinic in Birmingham had been bombed."It's been extremely depressing, but that's also been part of the fight. And that's what's made us strong and made these clinics last as long as they have," she said.But Derzis has vowed not to be pushed out. While she prepares to close Jackson Women's Health Organization, Derzis said she is working to open clinics in new areas such as New Mexico."They're not going to win. After all these years of fighting, we'll continue to keep fighting."In front of the Atlas sculpture at Rockefeller Center, activists hold a series of signs that read 'Legalize Abortion' during a demonstration in New York, March 1968.Bev Grant/Getty Images"For 50 years now, women have had this right; make space to take up the struggle," Beal added. "If you don't take up the struggle, you're leaving it for other generations to take up." | Civil Rights Activism |
Protesters shout slogans against the government during a demonstration, which also involved counter-protesters who are in support of the government, amidst the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Havana, Cuba July 11, 2021. REUTERS/Alexandre MeneghiniRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comHAVANA, July 6 (Reuters) - On July 11 last year, Cuba appeared poised for political change.Protests - the largest since the late Fidel Castro took power in 1959 - rocked the Communist-run island as Cubans poured onto the streets demanding social and economic reform.But the rallies were short-lived. Cuban authorities have since sentenced hundreds to jail time on charges from public disorder to sedition, prompting activists to allege rights violations. Other dissidents, under pressure and seeing momentum fizzle, have fled the island.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comMore than 140,000 Cubans, from all walks of life, have left for the United States since October, U.S. government figures show, the largest exodus from Cuba in decades. read more That migration, combined with a more generalized crackdown on dissent, has left in limbo the legacy - and future - of one of the boldest protest movements since the start of the Cuban revolution, analysts say."Discontent has to a large extent left the country," said Bert Hoffmann, a Latin America expert at the German Institute of Global and Area Studies. "To be sustainable over time, (the movement) needs organization."One year later, Cuban exiles and supporters outside the country have called for rallies to mark the date, but there is little sign of plans for organized protests on the island itself.More than a dozen dissident-leaders, in public statements or interviews with Reuters, say that is because Cuban authorities have left them with an unpalatable choice: stay quiet, get off the island, or go to jail."It was an impossible decision," said Cuban Carolina Barrero in an interview from Santiago, Chile. Barrero is a member of Cuba's San Isidro Movement, an artist-activist collective that predated the July 2021 protests.Barrero, also a Spanish citizen, said authorities gave her 48 hours to leave Cuba earlier this year, which she called part of a "witch hunt" following the rallies.Nonetheless, the protests have left a mark, she said."They managed to inspire, to break a barrier," Barrero said. "(The Cuban government) knows perfectly well that the tensions are still there, and that any little protest could explode."Cuba says the July 11 protests were fomented by the United States, and that together with tighter economic sanctions, seek to topple the government. The United States says the protests were spontaneous and denies that it provoked them.Cuban authorities did not reply to a request for comment on this story.'PROTESTS HERE TO STAY'While last year's protests have faded, the economic crisis seen as their catalyst has not. Long lines for food, public transport, fuel and medicine stoke frustration. Energy blackouts are frequent. read more President Miguel Diaz-Canel has taken note. He has tasked his government to be more responsive, and recently launched a program to help improve infrastructure and refurbish over 1,000 impoverished neighborhoods in the country.Some protest leaders, many overseas, dream of making a comeback. Arturo Lopez-Levy, a U.S.-based Cuban political expert, said they need, however, to regain touch with the real source of anger among Cubans: the economy."The opposition, in its agenda, is increasingly disconnected," he said.Anamely Ramos, another leader of the San Isidro movement now outside Cuba, said global attention had meant the "movement expanded in a way that we ourselves could not control.""This made it stronger but also made it more vulnerable," she said.Ramos said the group's leaders were repeatedly detained and questioned and that she too had felt pressure to leave. She has twice tried to return home but been denied entry as "inadmissible," without explanation, according to a Cuban Interior Ministry document viewed by Reuters.San Isidro is now trying to reimagine itself off-island, she said, adding she believed there was a roll for activism both in and outside of the country.Cuban state media has called San Isidro part of a U.S.-directed "soft coup" attempt, charges the group denies.Long-time pro-democracy activist Manuel Cuesta Morua, a rare organizer still living on the island, said he feels increasingly alone.While another July 11 seems unlikely, he said, he was optimistic there would be "many mini-July 11s.""I believe that the protests are here to stay in Cuban society," he said.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Dave Sherwood and Marc Frank, additional reporting by Anett Rios and Nelson Acosta in Havana and Rodrigo Gutierrez in Santiago, Editing by Rosalba O'BrienOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Civil Rights Activism |
A project by actors, producers and activists Eva Longoria and Dania Ramirez puts a spotlight on a family of Dominican women who fought against a brutal dictatorship and gave up everything in the fight for freedom.The actors’ new scripted podcast with iHeartMedia’s My Cultura Network “Sisters of the Underground,” tells the true story of the Mirabal sisters, Patria, Minerva and María Teresa, Dominican dissidents whose courageous activism and subsequent murders by the state triggered outrage that led, in part, to the downfall of the brutal dictator Rafael Trujillo (aka El Jefe) in the 1960s.The sisters were the subjects of Julia Alvarez’s widely praised 2010 novel, “In the Time of the Butterflies.” The audio drama stars a cast of Dominican actors including Judy Reyes (voicing Minerva Mirabal), Celinés Toribio (Dédé Mirabal), Sharlene Taulé (Maria Teresa Mirabal), Akari Endo (Patria Mirabal), Sergio Carlo (Manolo), Hemky Madera as (Trujillo) and Ramirez as narrator Minou Taváres Mirabal.Longoria and Ramirez — who formed a deep friendship after working on “Devious Maids,” which Longoria executive produced — told TODAY that bringing this story to life was “serendipitous.” The multifaceted stars, who serve as executive producers of the eight-part series, felt they needed to tell the story after seeing the “parallels” of what happened during that time period and today.“It doesn’t surprise me that women can be courageous and it doesn’t surprise me that once we put our mind to something we can make things happen,” Ramirez told TODAY over the phone. “But it does (surprise me) the time that this happened. Back in the 1960s in such a patriarchal society.”The Mirabal sisters’ efforts to challenge the regime cost them their lives, but it also sparked a revolution and made them symbols of both democratic and feminist resistance, as Time reported.“There’s nothing shocking to me that women are at the center of rebellion because women are disproportionately affected by things like this,” Longoria said, adding that in this day and age, “our democracy is being threatened and it’s going to be the activism, I believe, of women in this country to really get democracy back on track and to make sure that our rights aren’t being taken away, that we’re being heard.”We need more women like the Mirabal sisters who were so courageous during that time, but we still need that courage today.EVA LONGORIALongoria and Ramirez said that they know a thing or two about fighting for what they believe in and having their voices heard, especially in the entertainment industry.“I feel like I fight hard all the time,” Ramirez said. “I do believe that anything that’s worth it, it’s going to be a fight. I think, as women today, it’s interesting to see that we’re still fighting that fight.”Longoria added, “We fight for everything, every day. Women have to be twice as good, twice as efficient, twice as fast, twice as prepared and so it’s still the reality of it.”Together, they’re building their own sisterhood “between the women that are doing things and getting things moving” to put out meaningful content.Aside from collaborating with each other and Latinos in the industry, Ramirez was recently announced as the lead for Fox’s missing persons drama “Alert” after wrapping Season Two of Netflix’s “Sweet Tooth.”Elizabeth Messina, Getty ImagesAs for Longoria, “Sisters of the Underground” is the second of three original shows created by her UnbeliEVAble Entertainment for the My Cultura Network, which also includes the upcoming “Hungry for History” about the origins of cultural dishes, and “Connections” podcast, which launched earlier this year. She’s also coming off directing the pilot for HBO Max’s since cancelled comedy “Gordita Chronicles,” which she also served as executive producer. She also has an array of projects in the works, including producing and starring in the mini series “Land of Women” and her feature directorial debut, “Flamin’ Hot.”Ramirez hopes that with the retelling of the Mirabal sisters’ story, they “not only inspire women today, but also inspire the new generation of women” to show them that they can do anything they set their minds to.“United we matter more than divided,” Ramirez added.Longoria said she wants women to remember to “give themselves permission to be great.”“You are the difference,” she said. “These three women were ordinary women who did something extraordinary, and I think the rest of the world should empower themselves in that way.”“Sisters of the Underground” is streaming on iHeartMedia’s My Cultura Podcast Network, a network dedicated to elevating Latinx voices and stories.An earlier version of this story was first published on Today.com Follow NBC Latino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. | Civil Rights Activism |
Fifteen black former or current employees at Tesla have filed a lawsuit against the electric carmaker, alleging they faced racial abuse and harassment at its factories.The workers said they were subjected to offensive racist comments and behaviour by colleagues, managers, and human resources employees on a regular basis, according to the lawsuit filed in a California state court.The harassment, which allegedly occurred mostly at Tesla’s Fremont factory in California, included using the N-word and terms such as “slavery” or “plantation” or making sexual comments, the lawsuit claims. It alleges that the automaker’s “standard operating procedures include blatant, open and unmitigated race discrimination”.Some of the plaintiffs were assigned to the most physically demanding posts in Tesla or passed over for promotion, according to the lawsuit.It said that Montieco Justice, a production associate at Tesla’s Fremont factory, was immediately demoted upon returning to Tesla after taking an authorised leave of absence as a result of contracting Covid-19.Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The automaker is facing at least 10 lawsuits alleging widespread race discrimination or sexual harassment, including one by a California civil rights agency.It previously has denied wrongdoing and says it has policies in place to prevent and address workplace misconduct.On Monday, a federal judge in California ordered a fresh trial on the damages Tesla owes to a black former factory worker who accused the company of race discrimination, after he turned down a $15m (£12.4m) award.This month, a Tesla shareholder filed a lawsuit accusing the chief executive, Elon Musk, and the company’s board of directors of neglecting worker complaints and fostering a toxic workplace culture. | Civil Rights Activism |
Williams’ campaign drew on the energy of the post-George Floyd moment, promising to reimagine a “dual-purpose” system that he said had long offered justice for the wealthy and connected, but meted out punishment to Black and poor people. Like other progressive D.A. candidates before him, he appealed to a kind of economy of justice: that spending less time on minor crimes, and on things that shouldn’t be crimes, would give prosecutors more time and resources to tackle violent crime.Williams, 49, was born in New Orleans and was a student at the city’s Tulane University in the early 1990s, when the city had one of the highest conviction rates and violent crime rates in the nation. “What they call ‘tough on crime’ — making sure you give the maximum amount of time, to the maximum amount of people, mass-producing convictions — that didn’t make us safer,” he said.Reflecting on his first 17 months in office, Williams made sure to mention a slew of recent convictions in nearly the same breath as his efforts toward reform. He recognizes that violent crime is up, and that his office is responsible for addressing it. But he said he rejects “the idea that because there are more carjackings, we should ignore the Constitution, that we should disregard evidence and allow innocent people to get arrested and convicted.”The centerpiece of Williams’ reform agenda has been a civil rights division that is responsible for freeing roughly two people a week from prison since he took office. The unit’s mandate was broad: to re-examine possible innocence cases, excessive sentences, and people who were stuck in prison due to unfair prosecutorial conduct.Some of those people include “10-6ers” like Louis Mitchell.In 1967, at age 19, Mitchell was arrested for rape, an accusation he denies. Rape was a capital offense then, and a Black man accused of raping a white woman had virtually no chance of acquittal in a jury trial. Even though the alleged victim could not pick him out of a lineup, Mitchell was facing likely death if convicted, so he pleaded guilty and accepted two life sentences. At that time, lifers were routinely granted parole after 10 years and six months — thus the “10-6ers” moniker.But in the 1970s, state lawmakers delayed the window for parole eligibility, first to 20 years, then 40, before closing the window altogether. Mitchell had served 55 years of hard labor at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola when Williams filed a joint motion last October for Mitchell to plead to time served, paving the way for his release. Williams’ office argued Mitchell had been unfairly denied a chance at parole. The Louisiana Parole Project, which represented Mitchell, said that’s something Williams’ predecessor would have never done. “The former D.A. was not interested in reviewing past sentences,” said the organization’s executive director, Andrew Hundley. Mitchell’s hearing was before Campbell, one of the two progressive judges elected in 2020. He said of standing in her court that day: “It was like someone finally saw me. She finally saw the person I am, not the color of my skin.”Louis Mitchell leaves Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola in 2021 after 55 years.Courtesy Parole ProjectWilliams hasn’t received much criticism for authorizing releases like these. Instead, critics have pointed to the fact that under the new D.A., more people arrested for violent crimes are pleading to misdemeanors or having their cases dropped when compared to the prior administration. The Metropolitan Crime Commission, a nonprofit that publishes weekly city crime data and has been critical of Williams, found that in 2021, 74% of violent felony cases were resolved this way. It was 41% of cases in 2019 under the prior D.A.“That means that the violent offenders that had been arrested by the police department go right back out on the streets,” said the commission’s president, Rafael Goyeneche — a former prosecutor himself. “People just walked out,” he continued, “and that translates into the crime surge that we’re seeing right now.”A spokesman for Williams said this week they had not seen the figures from the crime commission. Williams has pointed to court closures due to Covid-19 and Hurricane Ida as factors that cut against his administration’s ability to resolve cases. But he also said his office is screening cases in more stringent ways than his predecessor, Leon Cannizzaro. Williams said the old attitude was: “We don’t care if it’s good or bad, or if they got the right person or if they follow the Constitution. We will accept it anyway.” Cannizzaro’s office used fake subpoenas to coerce witnesses into appearing, and in some cases, sought the jailing of crime victims to get their testimony. Cannizzaro, who now works for the Louisiana Attorney General’s office, did not respond to a request for comment. Williams has changed some of his office’s practices in response to the criticism. He has used sentencing enhancements in some cases involving guns, triggering longer prison terms, a practice Williams criticized during his campaign. He has also charged minors as adults in certain violent crimes, something he’d promised not to do. District Attorney Jason Williams has changed some of his office’s practices in response to the criticism.Annie Flanagan for The Marshall Project and NBC NewsThat infuriated progressive groups like VOTE. But Reilly, one of the group’s leaders, said it was also important to put Williams’ tenure in context. “It’s a million times better than anything we’ve seen in this city, to be clear,” he said.Reilly also said he doesn’t see the current political and public opinion backlash stopping the momentum for change. “For those of us who have been doing this work in the '90s and 2000s, This is nothing,” Reilly said. “Look how far we’ve come. You can’t unring the bell.” ‘Is there a way to make the system better?’One indication that voters have not changed course was the election of Susan Hutson as Orleans Parish sheriff in December 2021, well into the surge in violent crime. A former independent monitor for the police department, Hutson won on a reformist platform, promising to overhaul conditions at the Orleans Justice Center — one of the deadliest and most notorious city lockups in the country. She also replaced a more “tough-on-crime” politician, former Sheriff Marlin Gusman, who was the subject of a federal court-ordered monitor after a judge found that the jail’s conditions violated people’s rights.She said that “priority No. 1” is preventing deaths at the jail. On June 13, after two people died in the jail in separate incidents — a fight and an unrelated medical emergency — Hutson took the unprecedented step of temporarily pulling all of her staff from the city courthouse and reassigning them to the jail, which she said has been chronically understaffed. The move briefly forced the entire courthouse to go virtual.Hutson likes to answer questions with a series of new ones. Asked about plans the City Council made to use more surveillance technology in arrests, she wondered aloud: “What are you going to do with them? We’re just going to fill up that jail? Then what? When we have it overflow, then what?”The new sheriff, who has also faced “soft on crime” criticisms, brushed them aside. “Crime has gone up and down while the sheriff has done whatever he wanted to do in this place,” Hutson said. “It ebbs and flows.”She anticipates that reform-minded officials will be attacked regardless of the crime rate, and said she plans to follow through on her vision for the office, regardless of the political pressure. Hutson is confident that in four years, when she’s up for re-election, she’ll have results that will resonate with city residents.Fatima Muse. Zerb Mellish for The Marshall Project and NBC NewsMeanwhile, Muse, Pollock’s goddaughter, is left with her grief and a great deal of political uncertainty. Her core convictions on systemic racism haven’t changed, but she looks differently now at candidates running for positions in the criminal legal system. A lifelong Democrat, she said she could even consider voting for a candidate from another party — though it’s uncomfortable for her to admit. A marriage counselor by trade, Muse is used to weighing tension. She wonders aloud: “Is there a way to make the system better and not treat people as harsh, but also hold people accountable?”CORRECTION (July 6, 2022, 1:36 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article incorrectly identified the organization that produced a 2015 report on exonerations. It was the National Registry of Exonerations, not the Innocence Project. | Civil Rights Activism |
The magic words beginning the Miranda warning that many know by heart – "you have the right to remain silent" – may be enshrined in Hollywood shows and films, but Thursday's Supreme Court decision means its civil rights protections will be significantly reduced, legal experts told USA TODAY.The 6-3 decision, with the court's three liberal judges dissenting, in Vega v. Tekoh, essentially concluded that failing to "Mirandize" or give someone their Miranda warning, does not allow a person to sue law enforcement for a federal civil rights violation of the Fifth Amendment's protection against compelled self-incrimination.Though the decision does not mean Miranda goes away, it guts a major pathway – filing a civil rights lawsuit – to incentivizing police to provide a Miranda warning and ensuring their accountability when they do not, said Emily Galvin-Almanza, co-founder of Partners for Justice, a nonprofit that works to empower public defenders nationwide. She said it also prevents a record of past civil rights misdeeds that can potentially be used to discredit an officer in any future criminal proceedings.The change also makes it easier for police to obtain coerced confessions – by continuing to ask questions even if someone doesn't want to speak – and lets them play with what wiggle room their positions of power already give them, legal experts said."The courts are not generous in how they interpret people interpreting their rights. You have to say the magic words," Galvin-Almanza said. "This decision is really damaging because it says the courts don't have to tell you what the magic words are. You better come in knowing your rights."She pointed to a recent Louisiana case where a suspect in an interrogation told detectives "just give me a lawyer, dawg" and the state's Supreme Court ruled that the suspect was asking for a "lawyer dog" and not actually invoking his Constitutional right to an attorney.Those magic words, legal experts told USA TODAY, must be affirmatively and explicitly stated as, for example, "I want my lawyer and I want to remain silent" or "I want my lawyer and am invoking my right to remain silent." And then you should stay silent.If information is obtained without a Miranda warning, a defense attorney can argue that the evidence is inadmissible and should be suppressed. That remaining remedy means most law enforcement agencies will probably continue to train and encourage their officers to give such warnings, but it also relies on police properly representing the information they received to prosecutors and adequate defense representation, Galvin-Almanza said.Supreme Court strikes down NY gun lawSteve Vladeck, a constitutional law expert at the University of Texas School of Law, said that while Miranda remains, the court has "made it a lot less useful" and perhaps even incentivized further violations of Miranda moving forward.He noted that in cases where police interrogate the wrong person for hours without reading them their rights, the individual has no remedy."Being able to sue for damages was a critical way of ensuring that law enforcement officers would always be incentivized to provide the warning," Vladeck said.Vladeck said it's hard to split the difference between Miranda being a "full-fledged Constitutional right" and a "second-class right only enforceable in some circumstances sometimes. That's what today's opinion does to the detriment of countless interrogation subjects going forward."Those suspects largely tend to be people of color who are lower income. But it will also have outsized impacts on juveniles – whose brains are still maturing – the mentally ill and developmentally disabled, Galvin-Almanza.Many studies detailing police interrogation tactics, which include lying to suspects, show they can lead people to falsely confess to crimes. They account for 25% of all convictions later overturned based on DNA evidence, according to the Innocence Project, a civil rights organization.But it's not just false confessions that are of concern."A confused statement can cause someone to be subject to a vastly overblown set of charges," Galvin-Almanza said. "We forget about that because it's not a wrongful conviction. But it's not justice either."Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan wrote in her dissent that while the majority said defendants may seek to have statements suppressed at trial, that "sometimes, such a statement will not be suppressed. And sometimes, as a result, a defendant will be wrongly convicted and spend years in prison. He may succeed, on appeal or in habeas, in getting the conviction reversed. But then, what remedy does he have for all the harm he has suffered?"In a statement, Brett Max Kaufman, senior staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union said denying people the right to sue under the nation's most important civil rights statute "further widens the gap between the guarantees found in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and the people’s ability to hold government officials accountable for violating them.”The ACLU represented Ernesto Arturo Miranda in the original 1966 Supreme Court case.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court ruling on Miranda weakens civil rights, activists say | Civil Rights Activism |
Charity Mencap said people with learning disabilities are "facing a disproportionate cost of living crisis" and need more support, with working age disabled adults twice as likely to live in povertyWorking aged disabled adults are more than twice as likely to live in poverty than those who are notListen to the audio version of this article here Of the 14 million Brits living in poverty, half are affected by disability. Working aged disabled adults are more than twice as likely to live in poverty than those who are not. More than half of people who use food banks are disabled. On average, a disabled person’s extra costs are equivalent to almost half of their income Disabled people’s money doesn’t tend to go as far: on average, £100 for a non-disabled adult is equivalent to just £68 for a disabled person. By Rachel Charlton-Dailey, guest editor and founder of The Unwritten Disabled Britain: Doing It For Ourselves, is a week-long series across the Daily Mirror's print and digital platforms, showcasing the lives of disabled people and the issues important to us. The articles have been conceived by disabled people, written by disabled people, and photographs - where possible - taken by disabled people. Throughout this week, we aim to change your mind about how you view disabled people. After all, there are 14 million of us, and we aren’t all the same, it’s time the public stopped listening to lazy stereotypes and viewed disabled people in all our wide-ranging splendor. To read more on The Mirror's week-long series click here 290,000 people who receive disability benefits are no longer eligible for the Warm Home Discount. There are 14.6 million disabled people in the UK. 9% of children are disabled. 21% of working age adults are disabled. 42% of pension age adults are disabled. To read more content from our week-long series on Disabled Britain click here. Over 70% of family members or carers surveyed said loved ones who have a learning disability spend less time outside of the house compared to before the pandemic, with half of families saying reduced social care support is part of the issue. Jackie O’Sullivan, Executive Director of Communications, Advocacy and Activism at the learning disability charity Mencap, told the Mirror, “It’s tough for everyone right now, but it’s even harder for people with a learning disability who are facing a disproportionate cost of living crisis and don’t have the right support to help them budget. 290,000 people who receive disability benefits are no longer eligible for the Warm Home Discount (stock picture) (
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Getty Images) Get all the latest news sent to your inbox. Sign up for the free Mirror newsletter “People with a learning disability often face serious barriers to employment and many have to rely on benefits. Despite these barely being enough to live on, they have to make contributions towards their social care. "They are left with a minimum income: currently just £91.40 a week for most working-age adults, from which they need to pay for all their bills and food. "This ‘minimum income guarantee’ has been frozen for the last six years and only now has risen by 3.1% - which means a massive cut in real terms. To amplify the voices of disabled people To reveal the richness of disabled lives To create greater empathy for those living with disability To spotlight something which affects 14 million people in the UK… and ultimately us all To demand the Government consult with disabled people before making any decision that affects their lives “The Government must take action and raise this. "Are we really asking people to choose between having the support they need to live independently, and basics like heating and food? "What is the point of having someone to help you with personal care or cooking, if you can’t afford hot water or food?” Read More Read More | Civil Rights Activism |
Planned Parenthood, the ACLU and other reproductive health providers are asking a state court to issue an injunction to stop a new 15-week abortion ban from taking effect on Friday.Abortion rights activists march in Miami on Friday. Chandan Khanna / AFP - Getty ImagesJune 26, 2022, 6:55 PM UTC / Source: Associated PressTALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A state court is being asked to block a new Florida law which bans most abortions after 15 weeks just days after a conservative U.S. Supreme Court majority overturned a landmark case that had provided constitutional protections for women seeking abortions for almost 50 years.The American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood and other reproductive health providers on Monday are asking a Florida judge in Tallahassee to issue a temporary, emergency injunction stopping the new law passed by a GOP-controlled Florida Legislature from taking effect on Friday.The new law prohibits abortions beyond 15 weeks except to save the pregnant woman’s life or prevent physical harm, as well as in cases where the fetus has a fatal abnormality. Under current law, Florida had allowed abortions up to 24 weeks.“The ban is blatantly unconstitutional under the state constitution,”″ said the ACLU of Florida in a statement.In 1980, Florida voters amended the state constitution to guarantee a broad right of privacy, which includes the right to abortion, the civil rights groups and abortion providers said in court papers.Florida voters reaffirmed the right to privacy again in 2012 by rejecting a ballot initiative that would have limited its scope and would have prohibited state courts from interpreting the Florida Constitution to provide stronger protection for abortion than the U.S. constitution, they said.“Despite Florida’s history of protecting the right to abortion, the Florida legislature recently engaged in a brazen attempt to override the will of the Florida people,” the civil rights groups and abortion providers said.But the state of Florida in court papers asked the Florida judge to reject the request, saying those who are challenging the lawsuit have failed to show they will suffer “irreparable harm” if the injunction isn’t granted. The state of Florida also argued that the abortion providers and civil rights groups don’t have standing to make a claim of a personal right to privacy since they are acting as third parties on behalf of their patients.“In other words, doctors are not irreparably harmed simply because they cannot perform a procedure prohibited by state law,” attorneys for the state of Florida said.Separately, a South Florida synagogue also is challenging the legality of Florida’s new abortion law, claiming it violates religious freedom rights of Jews in addition to the state constitution’s privacy protections. The lawsuit filed by the Congregation L’Dor Va-Dor of Boynton Beach contends the law violates Jewish teachings, which state abortion “is required if necessary to protect the health, mental or physical well-being of the woman” and for other reasons.The Florida law mirrors a similar measure passed in Mississippi, which a conservative majority of the U.S. Supreme Court used to overturn the Roe v. Wade abortion decision. | Civil Rights Activism |
AUSTIN — Addie Jo Conradt and her Goldthwaite High basketball teammates didn’t realize how good they had it, relatively.Growing up in the 1950s in their close-knit community of 1,300, they assumed girls sports were universally encouraged, as was the case in Goldthwaite and other Central Texas hamlets.Conradt, valedictorian of Goldthwaite’s 22-student Class of ‘59, recalls the boys and girls basketball teams riding a bus together to play packed-gym doubleheaders in towns like Mason, Burnet and Llano.“It wasn’t until later, after I left, that I realized there was a whole world that didn’t understand women in athletics,” says Addie Jo, better known as Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach and University of Texas icon Jody Conradt.Gracious and dynamic as ever at age 81, Conradt on this day has come to UT’s gleaming Frank Denius Family Athletics Hall of Fame to discuss the 50th anniversary of the civil rights law that changed her life and those of millions of other American women.Legendary former Texas women's basketball coach Jody Conradt photographed at the Frank Denius Family UT Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday, June 9, 2022, in Austin.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)There is no more fitting person, and place, to assess the impact of Title IX of 1972′s Education Amendments, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or education program that receives federal funding.Conradt personifies Title IX. Its consequence is reflected in her life’s arc: From Addie Jo to non-scholarship Baylor star to master’s degree to $12,000-a-year college P.E. instructor to Coach Conradt to Texas women’s athletic director.When in 1976, at age 35, she finally climbed from coaching basketball, softball and volleyball at UT-Arlington to coaching basketball and volleyball at Texas, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s headline trumpeted: “Woman Earns Man-Size Salary: $17,000.”Ideal coach, time and place, turns out.Texas, perhaps more than any university in the country, has grappled with, shaped and ultimately led the implementing of Title IX.The law’s contentious path to acceptance and understanding nationally largely mirrors what happened at Texas, but UT today stands as a shining example of Title IX.In 1975, Texas, in response to Title IX, hired as the first director of its recently created women’s athletic department a brusque, audacious 29-year-old visionary, Donna Lopiano.Longhorn women’s sports became a national powerhouse by the early 1980s. But, over time, funding and other continuing inequities between the men’s and women’s sports nationally and at Texas troubled Lopiano.In 1992, after announcing her departure to become CEO of the Women’s Sports Foundation, Lopiano covertly plotted a lawsuit by seven women’s athletes that accused Texas of Title IX violations, a transformative moment that rocked UT and Lopiano’s AD successor, Conradt.As Conradt ponders Title IX’s half-century, several descriptors come to mind — pride, exhilaration, progress — but she says its effect mostly can be summed in one word.“Opportunity,” she says. “We think about it being opportunity in sport, but it is opportunity in a lot of different areas. Women can be whatever they want to be at this point in time and not feel like they are in a minority - and not feel like they are a visitor in the area of their pursuit.“All of that has happened, I think, as a result of Title IX.”Related:Forty years after Title IX became law, Granbury’s Leta Andrews continues to fight for equity in girls sports’The great adventure’When President Richard Nixon signed the Education Amendments into law on June 23, 1972, the purpose of Title IX was to update Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which banned some forms of employment discrimination but did not address educational discrimination.Title IX was not written with sports in mind and makes no mention of them.No person in the United States shall, based on sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.Two years passed, in fact, before it dawned on the NCAA’s legal counsel to inquire whether Title IX encompassed athletics and other extracurricular activities.When reality set in that the answer probably was “yes,” it triggered panic, chaos and years of legal challenges — primarily from the NCAA, which had no authority over college women’s sports, such as they were at the time.In 1971, women’s college sports administrators founded the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women for governance and to, starting in 1972-73, conduct national championships in eight sports.The NCAA and men’s college sports administrators were concerned that if Title IX forced schools to fund women’s sports, it would dilute resources for and income from revenue-producing men’s sports, primarily football and basketball.Perhaps nowhere was that concern more heightened than at Texas, which had won national football championships in 1963, 1969 and 1970 under coach Darrell Royal, who since 1962 had doubled as the school’s athletic director.Like most of its fellow larger in-state schools, Texas was late in offering women’s sports programs. It did not establish a women’s athletic department until 1973 or formalize women’s varsity sports until the 1973-74 school year.No doubt prodded by the specter of Title IX, Texas in 1975 hired Lopiano. She had traveled the world for a decade as a star softball player, earned a Ph.D. at USC and had been a multi-sport coach and assistant AD at Brooklyn College.“At Texas, it was the great adventure,” says Lopiano, 75. “It’s always thrilling to take a diamond in the rough and build it. ... We started with a blank slate, with a brand-new law that everybody was excited about, and figured it out.”In this photo from September 17, 2015, President of Sports Management Resources, Donna Lopiano Ph.D., speaks onstage during the New York Times Schools for Tomorrow conference at New York Times Building in New York City. (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for New York Times/TNS)(Neilson Barnard / TNS)Well, not everyone was excited. But at Texas expectations are elevated regardless of endeavor or gender, as was illustrated to Lopiano twice in her first month on the Forty Acres.During a Texas Exes meet and greet at Barton Creek Country Club, Lopiano was approached by UT Regent Ed Clark, who bluntly wondered how long it would take for a Longhorn women’s team to win a national title. Lopiano bet him an expensive bottle of wine that it would happen within three years.It would take six years. Lopiano’s other first-month lesson spoke to the almighty power of football at Texas.She received a phone call from an attorney representing the AIAW, which was fighting the first major resistance to Title IX: The Tower Amendment, introduced in the U.S. Senate in 1974 by Texas Sen. John Tower, seeking to exempt revenue-producing sports from Title IX.The AIAW attorney asked Lopiano if she could obtain a copy of Texas’ men’s athletic budget. Lopiano said, “sure,” then went to find Royal as he headed out to football practice. Royal told Lopiano to get a copy of the budget from his assistant.After Lopiano faxed specifics of the $2.5 million men’s budget, the attorney asked for a copy of the UT women’s sports budget, which Lopiano recalls was $90,000, including a total scholarship allocation of $10,000.The attorney called back: “Would you come to D.C. to testify about the Tower Amendment?”Lopiano: “Why, yes, my mother and father will be very proud.”A display honoring legendary Texas women's basketball coach Jody Conradt is seen at the Frank Denius Family UT Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday, June 9, 2022, in Austin.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)In her brazen naïveté, Lopiano hadn’t connected the dots or realized the ramification of going to Capitol Hill. Tower and Ed Clark were friends. Tower had input in drafting his amendment from President Gerald Ford, an ex-Michigan football star.Ford had been contacted by a concerned Royal and Neils Thompson, UT’s NCAA faculty representative.On the morning she was to depart for Washington, D.C., Lopiano got a phone call from second-year UT President Lorene Rogers, the first and still only female president in the school’s history. Seconds into the conversation, Lopiano realized: Uh-oh.“Are you telling me not to do this?”“No, I’m just going to tell you how to keep your job.”Rogers asked Lopiano to have a courtesy meeting with Tower and to emphasize that she was testifying as an expert witness, not representing the views of UT. And to likewise state that in her oral and written testimonies.“I did exactly what I was supposed to do,” Lopiano says.The Tower Amendment not only failed, but ultimately led to specific guidelines for the sports component of Title IX, that scholarship and participation numbers for men’s and women’s sports must reflect the student body percentages at each school.Increased paths for women athletes and women in general would be forged, but, at Texas, Lopiano knew where to start.“It had to be basketball because that was the women’s sport in Texas, and we had to recruit Texas,” she says. “So the next question was, ‘Who’s the best coach in Texas?’ "Finding the best coachEasily the state’s best women’s basketball program since the late 1940s was Plainview’s Wayland Baptist and its “Flying Queens,” the first school in the country to offer full scholarships to women athletes, largely funded by a local businessman.The state’s best coach in the mid-1970s? Lopiano deduced that it was Stephen F. Austin’s Sue Gunter or UT-Arlington’s Conradt.If Conradt had the edge due to her up-tempo offense, full-court defense, attention to detail and foothold in the UT system — which enabled her to meet Chancellor Charles LeMaistre — so be it. Like most women, she’d spent her life prying open, inch-by-inch, one of the few doors of opportunity afforded her.Idyllic though her upbringing had been in Goldthwaite, where her father, Charles, played semi-pro baseball and mother, Ann, played softball, Addie Jo was certain her life in organized sports ended with her 40-points-per-game high school career in six-player half-court basketball.Scholarships for women athletes were virtually nonexistent. Coaching? Not even a consideration. All the coaches she had or knew of were men, including her seventh grade coach and next-door neighbor Ray Akins, who would go on to become one of the state’s most legendary football coaches.Moreover ...“When you grew up in a small town, you only saw women doing one of two things,” Conradt says. “Being a teacher or, if I went to Brownwood, I might see a nurse.”Jody Conradt is pictured in her days at UT-Arlington. She coached there from 1973-76 before she was hired by Texas.(courtesy photo / digital file)She enrolled at Baylor to pursue a teaching degree. She didn’t even know the school had what was called an extramural women’s basketball team until she wandered into Rena Marrs McLean gym, heard the thump of a basketball and was invited to join in.When she tried to register for second-semester teaching courses, a bar had been placed on her record. Conradt was told she had to go to the physical education department and speak to the woman who coached the women’s team. The coach talked Conradt into changing her major to P.E.“I realized that was a way for me to teach and be a part of sports, as opposed to being in a classroom,” she says.Even then, after briefly teaching junior high in Houston and returning to Waco to be an assistant coach at Midway High and earn her master’s at Baylor, opportunities were scarce.Her first college head coaching job was overseeing basketball and volleyball at Sam Houston State from 1969 to 1973. The program offered no scholarships. Her annual athletic budget was $1,200 and her $12,000 salary derived not from coaching, but teaching seven activities classes.Legendary Texas women's basketball coach Jody Conradt holds her Longhorns T-Ring on Thursday, June 9, 2022, in Austin.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Including tap dance.At UT-Arlington her volleyball squads were superior to her basketball teams because, as a commuter school, most of the walk-on athletes had attended metro-area high schools, where volleyball was the sport of choice.UT-Arlington teams competed regionally under AIAW governance, which meant frequent matchups against Gunter’s powerful Stephen F. Austin basketball squads.One of Conradt’s most vivid memories is of an AIAW regional basketball tournament in Magnolia, Ark. UTA won its first game and had to face top seed Stephen F. Austin, which had a first-round bye.UTA had driven to Arkansas in a pair of station wagons. With only enough cash for gas and a meal for the trip home, Conradt had her team check out of its hotel. Gunter, figuring on a longer tournament stay, didn’t bring Stephen F. Austin until the day of the second-round game.Oops. UTA somehow won. At game’s end, Conradt had to ask Gunter for $200 cash — and Stephen F. Austin’s hotel reservations.“That’s how it was in those days,” Conradt says. “There was a connection, a camaraderie, a feeling that we were all in this together and we’ve got to make do.“We were just trying to provide opportunities for young women.”Those women, Conradt notes, truly played out of love of competing. There were no scholarships in which to induce and reward them, unlike for their male counterparts. Continuing struggleAnnette Smith-Knight celebrates winning the 1986 national championship with head coach Jody Conradt and capping off a perfect season of 34-0. UT SPORTS PHOTOAt Texas, and thanks to Title IX, resources wouldn’t be nearly so bare, though the struggle for respect and visibility would be ongoing.Football and other men’s sports needn’t have worried, turns out. All of the funding for women’s sports came from the university president’s office. Men’s sports owned and controlled their own financial pie, largely funded by football.Texas’ women’s varsity athletics began in the mid-1970s with 90 athletes competing in eight sports. In the 1980s, Longhorn women’s teams piled up 15 national championships, including Conradt’s 34-0 1985-86 squad.After two seasons she’d stopped coaching volleyball, with basketball well en route to powerhouse status, although Conradt says she never envisioned the scope of what was to come: women’s basketball often outdrawing the men in the Erwin Center, with Barbara Jordan and Ann Richards as courtside regulars.Or that in her 31 seasons at Texas, her teams’ aggregate graduation rate would be 99%.“My interest and my passion was to provide opportunities for young women, so that they would have the same kind of experience I had,” she says. “Being a part of a team. Striving for excellence. Having common goals. Moving forward as an individual to support the greater good of a team.“I didn’t have the big picture in mind. But thankfully the little picture that I did envision grew into something grand and glorious.”According to data compiled by the Women’s Sports Foundation, as of 1971 only 1 in 27 girls in America participated in sports. By 2016, the ratio was 2 of every 5 girls.Progress, though, has been relative. According to the foundation’s 2020 Chasing Equity report, citing 2019 U.S. Department of Education figures, 87% of NCAA schools still offered disproportionately higher rates of athletic opportunities to male athletes compared to their enrollment percentages.Lopiano, on her way out the door at Texas in 1992, initially tried to get several Southwest Conference schools to sue for lack of Title IX compliance. Ultimately she reached out to Texas’ club rowing coach with contact information for an Austin attorney.The resulting suit, filed on behalf of three club rowers, three club gymnasts and an intramural softball player, compelled Texas to settle out of court by adding varsity women’s soccer (1993), softball (1995) and rowing (1998).Lopiano’s departure represented a crossroad for Texas women’s athletics and for Conradt personally. “Donna comes to my house on a Sunday morning and says, out of the blue, ‘I’m gonna take this job at the Women’s Sports Foundation. And I think you should be athletic director because, if you don’t take the role, they’re likely to combine the departments and we’ll lose everything we’ve built.’ ”Problem was, Conradt wanted to keep coaching. In the ensuing days, it became clear to Conradt that UT’s administration wanted her to take the AD job, “but they weren’t very optimistic about me doing both.” Ultimately she agreed to be the athletic director, but only if she was allowed to keep coach. So from 1992 to 2001, she did both jobs. She says it was stressful time, but the lawsuit that forced the addition of three sports proved necessary. Numerous other colleges monitored what happened in Austin and followed Texas’ lead.Two years after relinquishing the AD role, Conradt coached Texas to the 2003 Final Four.She retired from coaching in 2007, but remains active as special assistant in administration to Chris Del Conte, who in 2017, his first year as athletic director, combined the men’s and women’s programs as one department, making Texas the last NCAA Division I school to do so.Gov. Ann Richards presented Coach Jody Conradt with the "600th win" ball in 1992. Conradt was the first female coach to reach this plateau, and Richards was a frequent visitor to Texas women's basketball games.(Susan Allen Sigmon)Del Conte is on record as calling Title IX “the greatest thing that’s ever happened to college athletics,” primarily because of the opportunities it’s created for women, but also due to the 85-scholarship cap that was placed on football, creating more parity in that sport.Today, Lopiano is president and founder of Sports Management Resources, helping schools assess whether they are Title IX-compliant — and testifying in court against schools that violate Title IX.“Sport is this extraordinary developmental thing that has shaped men forever to be real players in the game of corporate America, or be successful in whatever they choose to do,” she says. “Now women are taking advantage of that. You can see it. It’s fun to watch.”This year, Texas won a school-record-tying four national championships and attained a school-record six national runner-up finishes.Among the 20 team sports in which it competes (11 women’s sports) Texas finished among the top 10 in 14 of them while winning the Learfield Director’s Cup for all-around excellence for the second straight year, breaking Stanford’s 25-year hold on the award.Two of this year’s Longhorn national titles were by women’s teams, rowing and tennis. And of the school’s 62 overall national titles, exactly half have been won by women’s teams, all since 1981.No one is more proud of those facts than Goldthwaite’s Addie Jo Conradt, whose 7-foot bronze statue appropriately stands in the UT athletics Hall of Fame — next to, and just as tall, as that of Darrell K Royal.Twitter: @TownbradLegendary former Texas women's basketball coach Jody Conradt photographed at the Frank Denius Family UT Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday, June 9, 2022, in Austin.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)More Title IX- Texas talent: Meet some of the most influential and pioneering female athletes in history- As Title IX turns 50, University of Texas exes reflected on common bond of championships- Jody Conradt, University of Texas embody the shaping, struggles and success of Title IX- How pro path for female athletes has changed since Title IX, and where it needs to improve- 50 years of Title IX: Meet the next generation of star female athletes from D-FW+++Find more sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here. | Civil Rights Activism |
Tribeca: Director Nausheen Dadabhoy casts a wide net over several decades of Muslim American experience. Nausheen Dadabhoy’s documentary “An Act of Worship” has lofty ambitions, collapsing over 40 years of Muslim American history into 82 minutes. It is not, however, a linear informational relay, so it meets most of its goals through impressionistic portraits, archival footage, and images of modern activism, in an attempt to paint a multifaceted portrait of the pain caused by systems of bigotry and abuse. For the most part, it succeeds, even if its artistic highpoints — its transformative use of home videos — are rarely matched by its contemporary chronicles and re-enactments.
Framing its interviews as long-overdue confessionals (sometimes through one-on-one interviews, other times through therapeutic workshops), the film strings together a timeline of the pre-9/11 era, before the world’s biggest flashpoint for Islamophobia, but the image it paints is far from rosy; racist assumptions about American Muslims didn’t suddenly spring from the ground in 2001. Dadabhoy collects a handful personal family histories, contextualizing them along a timeline of several major landmarks — the Iran hostage crisis of 1979, the Oklahoma bombing of 1995, the election of Donald Trump, and so on — as she threads the needle between global events and American policies, from immigration crackdowns to the PATRIOT Act. As a broad collage of the “what,” “how,” and “why” of modern anti-Muslim sentiment, it’s an informative collection of stories. However, as a psychological exploration, it can’t help but feel scattered. The film offers hints (usually, through voiceover from various subjects) about the personal impact Islamophobia had on their lives, whether it made them suicidal or nudged them towards addiction, but these ideas are brushed aside quickly and often, as if the narrative’s purview has grown too wide and needs to find new focus.
For the most part, we follow a trio of young Muslim American women — a 16-year-old community organizer whose father was deported, an 18-year-old Sudanese immigrant and activist, and a civil rights lawyer — weaving in and out of their stories through candid moments that verge on vivid portraiture, but never quite get there. The footage shot specifically for the documentary never finds the right rhythm or visual approach, beyond its sense of removed observance. There’s a simplicity to it, but also a blandness. Capturing the three women’s daily challenges and conversations is a detailed act of witnessing and unburdening, but it pales in comparison to what the film does with its decades-old collection of home videos.
Aided by the eerie musical compositions of Mary Kouyoumdjian, subjects’ voiceovers are often matched (and mis-matched) with found and archival footage. Their personal recollections not only help frame widely-publicized events — from a much-needed perspective — but they also add emotional layers to each other’s stories, as if Dadabhoy and editor Ben Garchar were waving, in real time, a deeply meaningful tapestry of shared trauma and shared culture, shared joy, and shared resistance. These images, of children playing in lively drawing rooms, or families gathered in celebration, or unremarkable teenagers simply enjoying their downtime, soon begin to take on a more turbulent quality as the collective timeline approaches 2001. As a widely broadcast event, September 11th had an indelible impact on global societies; “An Act of Worship” wields its analog video clips with a similar immensity, through shudders and static that, in tandem with the subjects’ voiceovers, unearth the pain lurking beneath these unassuming pictures, and the horrifying burdens some of these subjects were forced to bear from a young age. While the film attempts to extrapolate their struggles — often intellectualizing them — it never does so as precisely as when its very fabric feels invaded by violence.
Placing conventional modern footage alongside video memories turned volatile, “An Act of Worship” casts a wide net across the lives of American Muslims, dividing its attention between the bureaucratic and the intimate. It never quite strikes a meaningful balance, but in the moments when it becomes an aesthetic encapsulation of social and psychological struggle, it is undoubtedly effective.
Grade: B
“An Act of Worship” premiered at 2022 Tribeca Film Festival. It is currently seeking U.S. distribution. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. | Civil Rights Activism |
The rabbi whose progressive synagogue sued the state of Florida over a bill that would ban abortions after 15 weeks, arguing that it infringes on religious liberty, has created an initiative to help other faith organizations — and atheists — push back against anti-abortion legislation across the U.S.Rabbi Barry Silver's initiative, Helping Emancipate Abortion Rights Today (HEART), seeks to "restore abortion rights in a post-Roe v. Wade world" and defy the "theocratic tyranny" of laws that clash with the Jewish belief that abortion is a basic right and life begins at birth, not conception, he said in a phone interview Tuesday."The initiative is designed to be able to allow any person of any belief system to challenge the anti-abortion laws on religious grounds," Silver said. "It's the height of chutzpah for people to tell the Jewish people what the Bible means and lecture the Jewish people on the sanctity of life."Silver's synagogue, Congregation L'Dor Va-Dor, sued this month challenging Florida's anti-abortion law, which is scheduled to take effect Friday. In the Jewish legal tradition, the suit says, "abortion is required if necessary to protect the health, mental or physical well-being of the woman."Silver said HEART will allow religious and atheist leaders in other states to essentially copy the text of his lawsuit, editing it as needed to fit the specifics of their communities and state laws. HEART will also be on hand to advise anyone who is interested in fighting anti-abortion bills on religious freedom grounds.The synagogue's lawsuit also argues that the law, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in April, violates the state constitution's privacy protections. DeSantis has recently emerged as a key figure in the modern conservative movement, and he is widely expected to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.DeSantis’ office did not respond to a voicemail and an email requesting comment on the lawsuit this week. In an email to Reuters this month about the legal challenge, the governor’s office said it was "confident that this law will ultimately withstand all legal challenges."Silver, a former Democratic member of the Florida House and a civil rights lawyer, said Tuesday that he has heard from Jewish leaders across the country who are interested in filing lawsuits against anti-abortion measures in their states. He hopes he can start a trend."When life begins is a fundamental religious question, and the government now is trying to answer that for everyone, based on fundamentalist Christianity," Silver said.In the eyes of many Jewish leaders, anti-abortion laws are particularly distressing because they contradict Jewish halakha — the laws drawn from the Torah, the Mishnah and the Talmud, the most sacred and authoritative texts in the tradition — according to Rabbi Ed Feinstein of Valley Beth Shalom synagogue in Los Angeles.The American Jewish community has likewise traditionally supported abortion access in overwhelming numbers.In a 2014 survey, Pew Research Center found that 83% of more than 800 Jews surveyed said abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Seventy-five percent of Jews polled by the 2022 National Survey of Jewish Voters said they were concerned the Supreme Court would toss out Roe.In general, Judaism’s Reform and Conservative movements tend to take more liberal positions on social issues in American life. But the picture is more complex among those who practice Orthodox Judaism, whose adherents tend to be more politically conservative and Republican-leaning than other Jews, according to Pew.Daniel Arkin is a reporter for NBC News who focuses on popular culture and the entertainment industry, particularly film and television. | Civil Rights Activism |
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Thousands of people were set to fill the streets of New York City for the 52nd annual Pride March Sunday.The theme for this year's event is 'Unapologetically Us' and it will kick off amid new fears about the potential erosion of freedoms won through decades of activism.The annual march takes place just two days after one conservative justice on the Supreme Court signaled, in a ruling striking down the right to abortion, that the court should reconsider the right to same-sex marriage recognized in 2015.That warning shot came after a year of legislative defeats for the LGBTQ community, including the passage of laws in some states limiting the discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity with children.As anti-gay sentiments resurface, some are pushing for pride parades to return to their roots - less as blocks-long street parties but overtly civil rights marches.In response, on Saturday organizers announced that Planned Parenthood would lead the march."Our voices will be heard - for the LGBTQ people impacted and the millions with whom we stand in solidarity," organizers said in a statement.Dan Dimant, a spokesman for Heritage of Pride, the nonprofit that organizes New York City's parade, said this year's march will still be festive, with floats and "people dancing and celebrating.""Pride is many things to many people. And for many people, it's a protest. And to many people, it's a celebration. We create experiences for members of our community to experience pride and the way that resonates with them," Dimant said.New York's first Pride March, then called the Christopher Street Liberation Day March, was held in 1970 to mark the first anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion, a spontaneous street uprising triggered by a police raid on a gay bar in Manhattan.Celebrations are now global, taking place throughout the year in multiple countries, with many of the biggest parades taking place in June.Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.The NYC Pride March broadcast special, co-hosted by Angelica Ross along with WABC's Ken Rosato, Lauren Glassberg and Sam Champion, will return for its sixth consecutive year on ABC 7 from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET on Sunday, June 26 as well on abc7NY.com, ABC News Live, and ABC7 New York's Connected TV Apps on streaming platforms Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku. Copyright © 2022 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved. | Civil Rights Activism |
History & CultureExplainerObserved on June 19, the holiday commemorates the end of slavery in Texas—which wasn't until two years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.Known to some as the country’s “second Independence Day,” Juneteenth celebrates the freedom of enslaved people in the United States at the end of the Civil War. For more than 150 years, African American communities across the country have observed this holiday. Juneteenth has gained awareness in recent years as activists have pushed for state and federal recognition. In 2021, their efforts finally came to fruition when U.S. President Joe Biden signed a bill into law that officially designates Juneteenth—observed each year on June 19—as an American holiday. As the holiday falls on a Sunday this year, federal workers will have the day off on June 20.(Here’s why Juneteenth is a celebration of hope.)With the signing of this bill, Juneteenth became the first new federal holiday since the establishment of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983. So what’s the story behind Juneteenth? Here’s a look at the history of the holiday and how it has been celebrated through the years.Freedom after the ConfederacyAt the stroke of midnight on January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation came into effect and declared enslaved people in the Confederacy free—on the condition that the Union won the war. The proclamation turned the war into a fight for freedom and by the end of the war 200,000 Black soldiers had joined the fight, spreading news of freedom as they fought their way through the South. (Read about the history of Juneteenth with your kids.)Since Texas was one of the last strongholds of the South, emancipation would be a long-time coming for enslaved people in the state. Even after the last battle of the Civil War was fought in 1865—a full two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed—it is believed that many enslaved people still did not know they were free. As the story goes, some 250,000 enslaved people only learned of their freedom after Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, and announced that the president had issued a proclamation freeing them. (Explore the Underground Railroad’s ‘great central depot’ in New York.)On that day, Granger declared, “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor.”A celebratory dayWith Granger’s announcement, June 19—which would eventually come to be known as Juneteenth—became a day to celebrate the end of slavery in Texas. As newly freed Texans began moving to neighboring states, Juneteenth celebrations spread across the South and beyond.Early Juneteenth celebrations included church services, public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, and social events like rodeos and dances. (Learn how to cook Juneteenth cookies.)For decades, many southern Black communities were forced to celebrate Juneteenth on the outskirts of town due to racism and Jim Crow laws. To ensure they had a safe place to gather, Juneteenth groups would often collectively purchase plots of land in the city on which to celebrate. These parks were commonly named Emancipation Parks, many of which still exist today.As the Civil Rights movement gained momentum in the ‘60s, Juneteenth celebrations faded. In recent years, however, Juneteenth has regained popularity and is often celebrated with food and community. It also has helped raise awareness about ongoing issues facing the African-American community, including a political fight for reparations, or compensation, to the descendants of victims of slavery.In 1980, Texas became the first state to recognize June 19 as a state holiday, which it did with legislation. Today, Juneteenth is recognized by nearly every state, and in June 2021, the U.S. Congress passed a bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.Other emancipation celebrationsDespite the holiday’s resurgence in popularity, Juneteenth is still not universally known and is often confused with Emancipation Day, which is annually celebrated on April 16.Just as Juneteenth originally celebrated freedom in Texas, Emancipation Day specifically marks the day when President Lincoln freed some 3,000 enslaved people in Washington, D.C.—a full eight months before the Emancipation Proclamation and nearly three years before those in Texas would be freed.Editor's note: This story was originally published on June 19, 2019. It has been updated. | Civil Rights Activism |
FILE – In this image provided by the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service, opposition leader Alexei Navalny appears on a video screen set up at Moscow City Court, on May 24, 2022. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny says prison officials ordered him to serve at least three days in solitary confinement, citing a minor infraction, in retaliation for his activism behind bars.(Russian Federal Penitentiary Service via AP) The U.S. State Department released a statement on Friday expressing concern about the Russian government’s “interference” with the rights of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Aleksey Navalny, an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin. “The United States is deeply concerned by the Russian Government’s escalating, arbitrary interference with Aleksey Navalny’s rights,” wrote department spokesperson Ned Price. Price said that prison officials have interfered with Navalny’s defense by forcing supervision of meetings with his lawyers and imposing delays on the exchange of documents between Navalny and his counsel. “This interference, along with his repeated diversion to solitary confinement for minor alleged infractions, is further evidence of politically motivated harassment,” Price said. “His arrest upon return to Russia was already shameful, but the Russian Government’s insistence on harassing him further only highlights its insecurity and fear of those who speak the truth.” The U.S. has said previously that Navalny was poisoned with a nerve agent in an alleged assassination attempt by Russian officials in 2020 after he expressed support for the protests occurring in Belarus and predicted that similar turmoil would occur in Russia. He was transferred to Germany for medical treatment following the poisoning. The opposition figure was arrested upon his return to Russia the following and sentenced to two and a half years in prison. The State Department released a statement last month condemning the attempt against Navalny on its two-year anniversary and calling for the Kremlin to “fully…dismantle its chemical weapons program.” Since his initial arrest, Navalny’s sentence has been extended to over 20 years on charges of fraud and contempt of court, counts that are contested by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and European Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell, among others. The Russian government has also charged Navalny for creating an “extremist group in order to incite hatred towards officials and oligarchs.” Tags Alexei Navalny Antony Blinken Ned Price nerve agent Vladimir Putin Vladimir Putin | Civil Rights Activism |
There "ain't no way" agents with the highest domestic law enforcement office in the country were keeping tabs on Aretha Franklin -- but they were.The FBI kept a careful eye on the Queen of Soul and her activism, nothing unusual during the civil rights era when the bureau was monitoring a host of the movement's luminaries. Franklin died in 2018, best known for her sturdy catalog of R&B and gospel hits, but her FBI file shows that her possible affiliation -- both real and perceived -- with Communist and Black liberation organizations was a regular focus for federal agents.Though the documents are redacted, the agents and investigators seemed to conclude there was no cause for alarm, despite the extensive monitoring. The file also outlines death threats and an extortion attempt targeting the singer, as well as a copyright infringement lawsuit.The FBI press office has no additional information on the 270-page file, it says, but Jenn Dize, founder of Courage News, said she obtained the records in a Freedom of Information Act request. The journalist, who says she "frequently report(s) on abuses of alphabet agencies, especially as related to the civil rights movement," requested the documents in 2018, she wrote in a Thursday tweet.One document, stamped September 1976, issues several thinly backed allegations against Franklin, including:a 1972 article in a "West Coast communist newspaper" indicating Franklin had performed at a concert arranged by a group linked to the Communist Party, which was raising funds to free Angela Davis, a political activist who was facing murder and kidnapping charges in California at the time;a confidential source later that year identifying Franklin among "persons associated or known to" the leader of a "black extremist group bent on disturbing the tranquility of the Island of Dominica," north of Venezuela;and an April 1973 review pertaining to the Black Liberation Army showing one document bore the address of Franklin's booking agency in New York City. The document described the BLA as "a quasi-military group ... employing the tactics of urban guerrilla warfare against the established order with a view toward achieving revolutionary change in America."Despite the allegations, the document states there is "no additional pertinent information" on Franklin.Those documents followed years of reports on the beloved songstress. In 1967, a classified memo titled, "Communist infiltration of Southern Christian Leadership Conference internal security," stated "a weekly Atlanta Negro newspaper" reported Franklin would perform at the SCLC's 10th anniversary banquet. The SCLC at the time was helmed by the Rev. Martin Luther King, another popular target of FBI monitoring.Days after King's assassination, the bureau expressed concern that Franklin, Sammy Davis Jr., Marlon Brando, Mahalia Jackson and The Supremes were scheduled to perform at a memorial concert and that some of the entertainers "have supported militant black power concept and most have been in forefront of various civil rights movements."It further states that "(Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) members felt the performance by these prominent entertainers would provide emotional spark which could ignite racial disturbance this area." The SCLC later decided against holding the memorial service, the document states.Her father, the Rev. C.L. Franklin, also drew the FBI's attention after he denounced England and praised Communist China at an August 1968 SCLC event. According to the FBI document, the SCLC had "taken a 'hate America' and 'pro-Communist' line, which the mass of Negroes will not recognize but which they will blindly follow."In following years, federal investigators would also look into: Franklin's and fellow singer Roberta Flack's contracts with Atlantic Records; an August 1968 "melee" that erupted at Denver's Red Rocks amphitheater after Franklin declined to perform; and her alleged connections to the BLA and Black Panther Party.A January 1972 memo says a confidential informant provided a phone number obtained by Black Panthers, and via a "pretext telephone call" -- a trap in which law enforcement uses an informant to convince a suspect to say something on a recorded line -- "it was determined that Cecil Franklin is the father of Aretha Franklin, noted Negro singer and entertainer, and a Mrs. Owens is her manager. No further investigation is being conducted by the Los Angeles Office concerning Aretha Franklin."The bureau concedes in a May 1973 document that two sources, whose names are redacted, told authorities that, to their knowledge, Franklin had never been connected to "any radical movement.""In view of the fact there is no evidence of involvement by Miss Franklin in BLA activities and in view of her fame as a singer, it is felt that it would not be in the interests of the Bureau to attempt to interview her," explains the letter addressed from a New York FBI agent to then-acting Director William Ruckelshaus.CNN has reached out to Franklin's estate.News of Franklin's FBI files comes days after Micky Dolenz, the last surviving member of The Monkees, announced he was suing the bureau to release any files it has on him or his former bandmates. CNN has also reported on other surprising figures -- ranging from blind activist Helen Keller to rapper Tupac Shakur -- on whom the FBI has kept files, and the FBI's civil rights files provide a who's who of the movement.Here are some highlights from those archives:Stokely CarmichaelA leader in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Black Panther Party, Carmichael was a constant cause of concern for the feds -- as more than 200 pages in his FBI file can attest. A memo from a redacted sender to then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover states, "Mr. Carmichael advocates murder and riots as the means of establishing 'black power,' which means, as I understand it, the elimination of 'whites.' We both know that to eliminate something is to get rid of it, to remove it, to do away with it. To eliminate the white element of our country would be to get rid of practically the whole population."Cesar ChavezAn icon of the labor movement, his FBI file spans more than 2,000 pages. In one memo, it states, "Chavez refuses to answer any questionnaires directed to him by Credit Bureaus or similar organizations. He has openly been called a Communist at Delano City Council meetings; however, (redacted) does not possess any definite information in this regard. He does believe that Chavez associates with 'left wing' type individuals and is known to distribute the 'People's World' from his office at Delano, free of charge."W.E.B. Du BoisDespite being the author of two dozen books on civil rights, Africa and history, the FBI had more than 500 pages on the highly respected sociologist, with a focus on his socialist leanings. A file stamped confidential says that, according to Du Bois' autobiography, "Dusk of Dawn," the author refers "to the basic negro creed, 'We believe in the ultimate triumph of some form of socialism the world over; that is, common ownership and control of the means of production and equality in incomes.'"Fannie Lou HamerThe National Women's History Museum describes Hamer "as one of the most important, passionate, and powerful voices of the civil and voting rights movements," and the US Justice Department was definitely keeping tabs on her work, even if it often misspelled her name as Fanny Hummer.A June 1963 memo outlines her and other activists' arrest for sitting in the white section of a Greyhound bus and at a whites-only lunch counter in Winona, Mississippi. Hamer told authorities it was two days before she was informed of her charges -- immoral conduct and resisting arrest -- during which time two Black inmates beat her with a blackjack on the orders of a state policeman, while a "third white male in the cell struck victim with his hand in attempt to quiet her screaming when being beaten by the prisoners." She was eventually released on a $200 bond, the equivalent of almost $2,000 today.Fred HamptonPolice killed the Black Panther leader while he slept in 1969, as chronicled in "Judas and the Black Messiah." It was three years before anyone faced trial (a prosecutor and 13 others were acquitted) and more than a decade before the raid's survivors received a seven-digit payout. Yet the week after Hampton's killing, Hoover received a letter from a redacted sender, saying, "There are disturbing indications that the Chicago Police murdered Fred Hampton in cold blood. ... If Hampton was indeed murdered in his bed, then the murderers must be brought to justice, all the more so if they were police. What is your office planning to do?"Medgar EversThe NAACP's first Mississippi field secretary was assassinated by a white supremacist in 1963. Among the items in the lengthy file on the civil rights icon was a report the week before Evers' slaying, stating he feared his NAACP and home phones had been tapped. "Suspicions aroused due to unusual amount of static, a feeling as if he were listening in a vacuum, unusual noises, muted voices and a hollow sound as if someone were listening," the document states.The Rev. Martin Luther and Coretta Scott KingHoover seemed to loathe Martin Luther King and tracked his every move. The then-FBI director once wrote of the civil rights icon's meeting with the pope, "I am amazed that the Pope gave an audience to such a degenerate." Hoover even oversaw an FBI plot to neutralize King.King's wife, Coretta, was not immune from such scrutiny. A memo reviewing one of her books questioned the authenticity of her demeanor, and following her husband's death, the FBI's Atlanta bureau suggested an operation to keep watch over her "in the event the bureau is inclined to entertain counterintelligence action." The bureau also fretted about "the continuous projection of the public image" of Coretta King and her late husband.Malcolm and Betty ShabazzMalcolm X, as he was better known, was the subject of FBI surveillance from 1953 until his assassination in 1965, an effort outlined in a file containing thousands of pages under his birth name and his sobriquet -- but the bureau was watching his wife, too, even after the Muslim minister was killed.A 1965 Justice Department memo details her "foreign travel" and warns that an Amsterdam News article months earlier reported, "The possibility of a split in the ranks of followers of the late Malcom X Shabazz loomed heavily this week as Malcolm's widow, Mrs. Betty Shabazz, was on her way to Mecca for the annual Moslem pilgrimage during the Hajj." Another article cited by the FBI speculates that her trip was "sponsored by several African nations."Jackie RobinsonOne of the greatest baseball players to ever swing a bat, Robinson also knocked down the barrier that kept African Americans from playing big-league baseball. But a decade after his retirement, the FBI paid close attention to his activism on behalf of James Meredith, who was shot four years after integrating the University of Mississippi.Years earlier, a 1958 memo cited an article in the People's Voice reporting that Robinson "had accepted chairmanship of the New York State organizing committee for United Negro and Allied Veterans of America," noting that both the newspaper and the UNAVA had Communist ties, with the latter accused of being "a communist front 'to provoke racial friction.'"The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | Civil Rights Activism |
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday said she wasn’t surprised by the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, saying “women will die” as a result of the decision and warning that the court’s conservatives will continue to try and “turn back the clock” on other constitutional rights. “There are so many things about it that are deeply distressing, but women are going to die, Gayle,” Clinton told “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King. “Women will die.” The former presidential candidate called Friday’s decision the culmination of a 50-year campaign to pack the court with justices who would overturn the former constitutional right to abortion. When asked about recent comments from Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), who said Justice Neil Gorsuch and Justice Brett Kavanaugh misled them on their positions on Roe during their confirmation hearings, Clinton pinned some of the blame on the two moderate senators. “I think they were misled in part because they wanted to be misled,” Clinton said. “They either knew, or they were blind to what the history of the people before them. Anyone who is surprised by this is not paying attention. So, these people were selected for this purpose.” Clinton also voiced support for eliminating the filibuster but argued that if lawmakers didn’t have the political support to lift it completely, they should do so for abortion legislation and other constitutional questions, like voting rights. The former first lady also raised concerns about Justice Clarence Thomas’ concurring opinion, which stated the court should reconsider some of its other precedents based on the same substantive due process argument at the heart of Friday’s decision, like those protecting contraception access and same-sex marriage. No other justice joined the opinion, and Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the majority that Friday’s decision shouldn’t be taken to reflect doubt on those other precedents. But many Democrats, including Clinton, have cast doubts. “Everybody understands that this is not necessarily the only effort that we’re going to see this court undertake to turn back the clock on civil rights and gay rights and women’s rights beyond abortion,” Clinton said on Tuesday. “This is going to, I hope, wake up a lot of Americans.” | Civil Rights Activism |
The toppling of Roe v. Wade has catalyzed a heated debate among some abortion rights supporters over whether gender-neutral language — like “pregnant people” instead of “pregnant women” and “chestfeeding” instead of “breastfeeding” — should be used in advocating for abortion rights.A number of leading abortion rights and civil rights groups, including Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union, and some Democratic lawmakers, like Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, have shifted their messaging in this way to be more LGBTQ-inclusive as an increasing number of Americans identify as transgender and nonbinary. Even the National Education Association, the country’s largest public teachers union, recently proposed changing the word “mother” to “birthing parent” in contracts.As abortion-rights activism has been amplified in recent weeks following the Supreme Court’s historic decision last month to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark ruling that guaranteed a constitutional right to abortion, some pro-abortion rights, cisgender women have taken notice of these linguistic changes — and not all of them are pleased.On July 3, The New York Times published an op-ed titled “The Far Right and Far Left Agree on One Thing: Women Don’t Count,” in which opinion columnist Pamela Paul argued that the shift in messaging is erasing cisgender women — women whose gender identity matches their birth sex.“The noble intent behind omitting the word ‘women’ is to make room for the relatively tiny number of transgender men and people identifying as nonbinary who retain aspects of female biological function and can conceive, give birth or breastfeed,” Paul wrote. “But despite a spirit of inclusion, the result has been to shove women to the side.”The following day, the actor Bette Midler made international headlines when she tweeted: “WOMEN OF THE WORLD! We are being stripped of our rights over our bodies, our lives and even of our name! They don’t call us ‘women’ anymore; they call us ‘birthing people’ or ‘menstruators’, and even ‘people with vaginas’! Don’t let them erase you! Every human on earth owes you!”On Tuesday, Midler sent a follow-up tweet explaining that her previous remarks were in response to Paul’s “fascinating and well written” op-ed and were not meant to be “exclusionary or transphobic.”But while the cisgender women sharing these linguistic concerns see them as solidly pro-women, trans advocates have largely classified them as anti-transgender.“The notion that you can’t say the word ‘women’ strikes me as the notion that you can’t say ‘Merry Christmas,’” Gillian Branstetter, a communications strategist at the ACLU, said. “It’s a panic that is very absent from reality and attempts to position a growing, changing society as a threat.”Branstetter also noted that while the ACLU’s press release following the Roe reversal used the term “pregnant people,” the word “women” was used more than a dozen times.An argument made by cisgender women against using gender-neutral language to push for abortion rights is that the number of cisgender women seeking reproductive care vastly outweighs the number of trans and nonbinary people seeking similar care.“Every single being who has ever needed an abortion in the entire history of humanity was female,” best-selling author Helen Joyce, who has written a series of articles for The Economist and a book challenging transgender identities, said. “And until very recently, for most people, we use the word ‘women’ for female people.”Joyce added that using gender-neutral language makes women invisible and chips away at their collective political power.“It’d be like trying to fight against slavery by saying ‘people own’ and ‘people are owned,’” Joyce, who is pro-abortion rights, said. “Well, which people own? And which people are owned? You’ve got to name the people who were affected by something.”There is little research on the number of trans or nonbinary people who receive abortions in the U.S., as most medical systems record them as female. However, a 2020 study by Planned Parenthood and the Guttmacher Institute — a research and policy organization dedicated to expanding sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide — estimated that of the roughly 862,000 abortions performed in the U.S. in 2017, 462 to 530 of them were conducted on trans or nonbinary people. But given the growing proportion of Americans who identify as trans or nonbinary, experts believe the number could be higher. A study published by the Pew Research Center last month found that about 5% of young adults in the U.S. identify as transgender or nonbinary.Adri Pèrez, 29, who is nonbinary, had an abortion as a teenager after being sexually assaulted and before transitioning.“I was 16 years old; I was a girl,” Pèrez said. “To describe me as a ‘woman’ even then would have been insulting and factually incorrect as well.”Pèrez also said language that does not include trans or nonbinary people perpetuates health care discrimination against them, and prevents them from seeking necessary care. More than a third of trans people who have been pregnant considered ending the pregnancy themselves because of abortion-access barriers and health care mistreatment, according to a 2019 report by the journal BMJ Seuxal & Reproductive Health.Nearly half of transgender people — and 68% of transgender people of color — report having experienced mistreatment at the hands of a medical provider, including refusal of care and verbal or physical abuse, according to a 2021 report by the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank. The survey of 1,528 LGBTQ people also found that 28% of trans people, and 22% of trans people of color, reported having postponed or not obtained necessary medical care for fear of discrimination.“When I first came out in 2010, and when I first started to try to start to transition in 2012, there were no doctors in my city who knew how to treat or talk to transgender patients,” Pèrez, who lives in Austin, Texas, said. “I was so desperate that I emailed every single one of them, and I attached studies and research, and not one of them would see me."Alejandra Caraballo, a clinical instructor at Harvard Law’s Cyberlaw Clinic and a transgender-rights advocate, said she worries that this most recent debate will erode public support for trans people at a time when their rights are being debated at historic rates.More than 340 anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced in states across the country this year, according to the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ advocacy group.“This is just giving a further greenlight to transphobic people to push transphobic policies and create this false sense of scarcity that somehow trans rights are in opposition to women’s rights when oftentimes they go hand in hand,” Carabello said.Despite the recent criticism of gender-neutral language in the abortion rights movement, a poll of more than 10,000 Americans published by the Pew Research Center last month found that women — and particularly Democratic or liberal-leaning women — are generally more accepting of the transgender community than men. For example, the poll found that among Democrats and Democratic leaners, 54% of women surveyed say it is “extremely” or “very important” to refer to trans people by their new pronouns, compared with 46% of men in this same political group.Mini Timmaraju, the president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said that when she was growing up, she didn’t see herself in the feminist movement as a woman of color. But today, the movement is stronger because of its diversity, she said.“Women have the right to be angry, but we’ve got to be focused on the true villain here,” Timmaraju said. “It’s not the trans community or nonbinary folks that’s taking away your rights. It’s extremist Republican elected officials.”Follow NBC Out on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram | Civil Rights Activism |
Disgraced ex-police officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison Thursday for violating the civil rights of George Floyd, whose 2020 death sparked a nationwide outcry and a summer of protests. The former Minneapolis police officer, who is already jailed on state murder charges for his role in the death of Floyd, received his sentence in federal court on two counts of violating Floyd's civil rights after he agreed to a sentence of 20 to 25 years in his December plea to a federal charge in Floyd's killing. Directing a statement to Floyd's family, Chauvin said he wished Floyd's children "all the best in their life" and that they have "excellent guidance in becoming good adults," though he did not issue a direct apology. He also said he recognizes the difficulty for the court in a "politically charged environment" and that the court strives for fairness. FEDERAL JUDGE ACCEPTS PLEA DEAL FOR DEREK CHAUVIN IN CIVIL RIGHTS CASE In this screen grab from a video, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is seen during victim impact statements as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides over the sentencing on June 25, 2021, in Minneapolis. (Court TV, via AP, Pool) U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson made the final decision to have Chauvin serve 245 months in prison, knocking off seven months from the initial 252 months due to his time served already. Before the sentencing, Magnuson told Chauvin: "I really don't know why you did what you did, but kneeling on someone until they expire is simply wrong, and for that, you will be punished." Chauvin's defense attorney Eric Nelson asked for a "low end" 20 years in prison, saying his client accepts responsibility for his actions and that he is not at risk for a repeat offense. He already received a sentence of 22.5 years in prison from a state court in June 2021 for the murder of Floyd. Prosecutors wanted a full 25 years, arguing Chauvin's actions were cruel and unnecessary. Those sentiments were also expressed by Floyd's brother, Philonise Floyd, who gave a passionate plea for the maximum sentence. “My brother was murdered in broad daylight with a knee to his neck for nine minutes," he said Thursday. Other members of Floyd's family, including his girlfriend, Courteney Ross, were present in court for the sentencing Thursday. "Mr. Chauvin, I do not hate you. I am still working to forgive you," Ross said Thursday. She also said she "fell to the ground in devastation" when she learned of Floyd's death, adding, "It is difficult to explain what was taken from me. ... Floyd was the man I loved. ... I miss laughing with him," according to CBS News. A May plea agreement, accepted by Magnuson, sought to extend Chauvin's sentence while potentially relocating him to more favorable conditions in federal prison. By entering his federal plea, the former officer admitted for the first time that he kept his knee on Floyd's neck despite Floyd repeating the statement "I can't breathe" several times before he became unresponsive during the May 2020 arrest. Chauvin, a white man, pleaded guilty to federal charges in December that he abused his power to violate the civil rights of Floyd, a black man, thereby avoiding a possible life sentence in prison. During the hearing last year, he addressed the Floyd family and said: "I want to give my condolences to the Floyd family. There is going to be some other information in the future that would be of interest, and I hope things will give you some peace of mind." While Chauvin must serve the federal sentence at the same time as the state one, which will render him a longer stay behind bars than he would have faced with the state sentence alone, experts say the deal could mean safer conditions in the federal system. The ex-officer may risk encountering inmates in Minnesota state prison whom he previously arrested or investigated. Although he may be viewed as a former law enforcement officer, a sentence in federal prison may reduce the risk of running into inmates he directly encountered during his career. Chauvin would also have more allowances to work and participate in programming and chances to move about the facility. This undated file photo provided by Christopher Harris shows George Floyd. Floyd died on May 25 after he was pinned to the pavement by a police officer who put his knee on the handcuffed black man's neck until he stopped breathing. (Christopher Harris via AP, File) CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The video showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes during an arrest in Minneapolis in May 2020. Floyd repeatedly said he couldn't breathe before losing consciousness and was later pronounced dead. The events of that day spurred a wave of protests in Minneapolis and around the country against police brutality and racial inequalities. The three other former officers present during the arrest, Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng, and Tou Thao, were convicted of violating Floyd's civil rights in February and are awaiting sentencing. | Civil Rights Activism |
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Former first lady Michelle Obama spoke at the Culture of Democracy Summit on Monday, where she claimed that democracy in the U.S. is "fading."Obama made the remarks as part of the summit's keynote speech. When We All Vote, is a voting registration campaign started in 2018 with the help of Obama. The campaign and summit are focused on encouraging voter registration, participation, and activism."No one has the luxury to sit out or stay at home just because you’re not feeling excited enough. If you don’t vote, other people will," Obama said.MICHELLE OBAMA WORRIES OVERTURNING ROE V. WADE WILL STRIP 'WOMXN' OF THEIR RIGHT TO HEALTH CARE When We All Vote founder and co-chair Michelle Obama gives the Keynote Speech onstage at When We All Vote Inaugural Culture Of Democracy Summit on June 13, 2022 in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)"I have said it before, but it's important for us all to remember it's not just about who you vote for. It's not about whether you're a Republican, Democrat or independent," said the former first lady. SPOTIFY DECLINES TO RENEW OBAMAS PODCAST CONTRACT: REPORTObama warned audience members that there might be a discrepancy between how they imagine democracy in the US and the reality of election results. "This is so much bigger than that, because right now when we look around at everything that is happening with voting and our democracy, it is clear that we're seeing a deep discrepancy between what we tell ourselves about this country and what we see with our own eyes."She additionally made a series of remarks about a "change" in both the conception of US democracy and the way in which voters "participate" in democracy.WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY LAUGHS OFF QUESTION ABOUT BIDEN'S STAMINA"I want to implore every American who cares about our democracy not to just get angry or dejected. I want you to get active," she said. "We’ve got to change the way we think about our democracy. And we’ve got to change the way we participate in it. Not just every two or four years, but as a routine part of the way we all live."Other celebrity guests to the summit included Democratic allies Janelle Monáe, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Selena Gomez.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPObama has redoubled her campaign for voter registration after a Supreme Court draft opinion showed the justices may plan on overturning Roe v. Wade."State lawmakers will have the power to strip womxn of the right to make decisions about their bodies and their healthcare," she wrote in May.In her larger message, Obama opined on how women may lose rights to make decisions about their own bodies."But we don’t have to stand idly by while others try to turn back the clock on progress," she continued. "I’m so inspired by everyone out marching today. And I know that we’re going to see so many folks carrying this energy forward to the elections in November and in every election after that." Timothy Nerozzi is a writer for Fox News Digital. You can follow him on Twitter @timothynerozzi and can email him at timothy.nerozzi@fox.com | Civil Rights Activism |
America’s most prominent caste equity activist, Thenmozhi Soundararajan, was slated to give a talk at Google in April, for Dalit History Month. She was ready, she said, to explain to one of the world’s largest tech companies that caste oppression is a problem — and that it probably exists under its roof, too.She was armed with years worth of stats gathered through her civil rights organization, Equality Labs, which show that two-thirds of Dalits, those who have been historically oppressed under India’s caste system, have faced discrimination in their U.S. workplace. But as news spread of her impending appearance, not everyone at Google was happy. A handful of Hindu employees said that they felt “targeted” on the basis of religion, a company statement and several anonymous interviews confirmed. They appealed to Google leadership asking that the speech be canceled, and so it was. Soundararajan was informed her talk would not go forward, The Washington Post first reported. “It was very troubling that Google News management could not discern disinformation and bigotry,” Soundararajan told NBC Asian America. “We are seeing people who have multiple protected classes weaponize language of equity to avoid confronting the systems that have given them privilege.” In a statement to NBC Asian America, a Google representative said the company is against casteism, but Soundararajan’s speech would have been too divisive. “Caste discrimination has no place in our workplace,” the company said. “Here, there was specific conduct, and internal posts, that made employees feel targeted and retaliated against for raising concerns about a proposed talk… We also made the decision to not move forward with the proposed talk which — rather than bringing our community together and raising awareness — was creating division and rancor.”Dalits, or those born into marginalized castes in India’s rigid hierarchies, have faced violence and oppression on the subcontinent for thousands of years. Though the system is now illegal in India, its impacts are still far-reaching and can manifest in every aspect of life. With the growing Indian diaspora in the U.S., the system has been brought to a new continent. It’s been two years since California sued tech conglomerate Cisco and blew open conversations about casteism in the U.S. (The lawsuit alleges the company failed to protect an Indian Dalit employee who was being actively targeted by his dominant-caste Hindu managers.)Since then, a dialogue that employees say was once in the shadows has stirred the entirety of Silicon Valley. “No one wants to be the next Cisco,” Soundararajan said. 'The best kept secret at Google'Some things have changed. Twitter, Facebook and YouTube have started moderating caste-based hate speech on their platforms. Dell, Apple and Amazon now include caste-proficiency in some employee manuals and trainings. But Dalit tech workers say that’s not enough. While caste policies are sweeping some sectors, like academia, it’s still not an explicitly protected category federally or at the biggest U.S. tech companies. This means Dalits have little institutional support in the industry. It's difficult for their complaints about caste discrimination at work to lead to disciplinary action, especially if their co-workers claim religious discrimination in response.Religion, unlike caste, is a protected category in the workplace, and many non-Dalit coworkers aren't aware of the starkly different work environment they face, according to an expert. “If you don’t have recognition of a form of discrimination that’s happening, there’s little recourse,” said Sonja Thomas, an associate professor at Colby College who has studied and written about casteism. “You can’t even bring a complaint, and the burden of proof is always going to be on the survivor.” What the incident at Google proves, Dalit tech workers and allies say, is that open caste discrimination runs rampant in their industry. Many still hide their caste in fear of retaliation, and Dalit support groups only form outside of the office, where bosses can't single them out, experts say. The onus falls on the marginalized to protect themselves, to find support and to advocate for their caste-oppressed peers, Thomas said, and those in power largely stand by and do nothing. “Caste was the best kept secret at Google,” a current Google employee told NBC Asian America. “Nobody wanted to bring up the topic.”Being called 'less educated' and other accusationsAn unmoderated message board used by more than 8,700 South Asian workers at Google is home to attacks and disagreements, as well as discriminatory statements about Dalits, staff members said. Google employees that are on the group say some dominant caste members have called Dalits "less educated" and equated caste equity to reverse discrimination. “A lot of this has just created a very unsafe and toxic environment for caste-oppressed workers or those who are speaking up against caste,” one of the Google employees said. Both employees told NBC News that co-workers have been reported to Human Resources as “Hinduphobic” for speaking up about casteism.“At the workplace, it’s tricky because religion is a protected category,” the second employee said. “HR doesn’t have any competency around caste, and caste is not a protected category.” Google didn't respond to a request for comment about the message board's contents. Other employees in the tech industry alleging caste-based discrimination say that what happened at Google is far from an isolated incident. After her dominant caste Indian boss found out she was Dalit, a project manager, who has worked at some of the U.S.’s largest tech companies and asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, said she immediately began to pick up on hostility from him. Some of it was subtle — she stopped getting invited out to lunch, her ideas were getting shut down. After a while, she said, it became much more blatant. “There was a project that I volunteered for. In front of everyone, he said, ‘Don’t touch that project because you’re ill-fated,’” the project manager said. “I never thought caste would manifest this way in the U.S. … I was shell-shocked.” The 2020 Cisco lawsuit against Cisco cites an unnamed Dalit engineer who came forward saying two of his upper-caste managers openly enforced caste hierarchies in the office. The lawsuit says that when the when the employee went to HR about the discrimination, he was allegedly told caste is not protected in the workplace. He was even reassigned and denied promotions because of the incident, it said. A spokesperson at the time told Reuters that the company is pushing back hard against the lawsuit. “Cisco is committed to an inclusive workplace for all,” she said. “We were fully in compliance with all laws as well as our own policies.”The case was ultimately dropped and refiled in a county court, but many Dalit tech workers nationwide say the allegations resonate with them. The project manager said she understands this fear of coming forward about harassment. When experiencing workplace discrimination herself, she said she considered going to HR too, but ultimately decided against it. “The question was, how can I even take this to HR because HR wouldn’t even understand what caste is,” she said. “There’s no education about caste. I would have to start from scratch.”Another Dalit tech worker, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, said the stakes of coming forward are extremely high. At a client lunch, he said he listened to his Hindu colleagues defending the caste system to a white co-worker. When he stepped in to advocate for India’s oppressed classes, he said the change in his treatment was instantaneous. He received lower performance ratings and was eventually reassigned to the company’s office in India.“He knew that he was doing my green-card processing,” he said. “He promised me that he would do my green card and suddenly, I was told I had to go to India. My daughters ... one was in elementary school and one was in high school. I was planning for them to be educated here.”Afraid of going to HR and being terminated, he took his family back to India. Eventually, he was able to find another job in the U.S., but his kids faced setbacks in their education and development. Both Dalit workers said their stories highlight the necessity of caste being added as a protected category in the U.S. workplace. With the incident at Google compounding the public awareness, Silicon Valley is in another reckoning, the project manager said. “You can actually see how casteist mindsets work,” she said. “How casteism really exists. You are seeing it happen in real time in front of your eyes.” Because of the field’s heavily South Asian makeup, experts say tech has the potential to be a leader in equity. But without education on the far-reaching impacts of the caste system, Dalits and allies fear nothing will change. “Now, I’m trying to hide my caste identity,” she said. “I don’t want the same thing to happen at my workplace. I just want to do my work. I want to thrive, not just survive.”Employees and allies say they're left confused Soundararajan felt like she was in the dark after her talk was abruptly canceled. She said she appealed to multiple managers at Google in an effort to get her talk reinstated, and was ultimately given little explanation as to why it was snuffed. A company higher-up told her “‘caste is not a protected category, so Google isn’t mandated to have these conversations,’” she said. Google did not respond to a request for comment on this allegation. A former Google News manager, Tanuja Gupta, pushed alongside Soundararajan, even starting a companywide petition to allow her to speak. But after being told several times that there was a further vetting process taking place to evaluate the potential speaker, Dalit History Month passed. Asian American History month passed as well. And neither woman received any updates. Gupta declined to speak to NBC News. In a widely circulated resignation email obtained by The Washington Post, Gupta said her advocacy put a target on her back. After circulating the petition, she said she was made ineligible for promotions and her performance rating was lowered, plus she was barred from contacting any other Dalit speakers, so she chose to step down. Google confirmed in its statement that it gave an employee a formal warning about their job performance, but declined to divulge further details or answer questions about Gupta’s employment. “Caste-oppressed people are minorities within minorities,” Soundararajan said. “It is very obvious that Google management completely lacks comprehensive basics around what caste equity is and does not know how to create a safe workplace for caste-oppressed workers.”While these may feel like new conversations to dominant-caste folks, Thomas said Dalits have been having them for years. “The burden of proof is on them, and we know that re-traumatizes people,” she said. “When it comes to caste, we ask people to re-traumatize themselves, to talk about their experiences over and over and over.” Staffers ask dominant-caste Google CEO to speak outIndian American Google CEO Sundar Pichai has long been vocal on issues of equality. In a note sent to the entire company in June 2020, he called out the “structural and systemic racism that Black people have experienced over generations.”He committed to improving representation in Google employees of all levels, starting anti-racism programming, donating money to racial justice orgs and supporting Black-owned businesses. But employees say when it comes to caste discrimination, the CEO, who is from a dominant caste, has been noticeably silent. “It’s very odd and malicious,” one of the anonymous Google employees said. Another said he sees a willful ignorance on the part of executives. “Google as a company is very data-driven,” he said. “Internally, a lot of policies we’ve seen change have been, for better or worse, after some data about it was collected. With respect to caste, there is no official or unofficial data around representation. And Google has not shown any intent to collect any sort of data.”Soundararajan and Gupta ended up holding their caste equity talk anyway. It wasn’t sanctioned by Google, as Gupta had to explicitly say at the beginning, but it was streamed on YouTube, where it has gathered thousands of views. “The South Asian American community, we are in a reckoning about caste,” Soundararajan said. “And people who have always had privilege and who have dominated the microphone on this issue are very uncomfortable with having to share space for the first time with caste and religious minorities.” | Civil Rights Activism |
The Supreme Court must revisit and overrule past landmark decisions that legalized the right to obtain contraception, the right to same-sex intimacy and the right to same-sex marriage, conservative Justice Clarence Thomas wrote Friday.Thomas, in a concurring opinion to the court’s precedent-breaking decision overturning Roe v. Wade and wiping out constitutional protections for abortion rights, said that he would do away with the doctrine of “substantive due process” and explicitly called on the court to overrule the watershed civil rights rulings in Griswold v. Connecticut, Lawrence v. Texas and Obergefell v. Hodges.Griswold was a 1965 Supreme Court decision that established the right for married couples to buy and use contraceptives. It became the basis for the right to contraception for all couples a few years later. Lawrence was a 2003 Supreme Court decision that established the right for consenting adults to engage in same-sex intimacy. Obergefell was a 2015 Supreme Court decision to establish the right for same-sex couples to be married.The legal reasoning in all three monumental decisions — as well in the two decisions, Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, that had prior to Friday established a legal right to abortion care — relied heavily on the doctrine of substantive due process.Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas listens as then-President Donald Trump speaks before he administers the Constitutional Oath to Amy Coney Barrett at the White House in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 26, 2020.Patrick Semansky / AP file“As I have previously explained, ‘substantive due process’ is an oxymoron that ‘lack[s] any basis in the Constitution,’” he wrote. He later called it a “legal fiction” that is “particularly dangerous.”Substantive due process is a term in constitutional law that essentially allows courts to protect certain rights, even if those rights are not explicitly enumerated in the Constitution. It has been interpreted in many cases to apply to matters relating to the right to privacy — including over matters like love, intimacy and sex — which is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution.Conservative jurists have long dismissed the legal reasoning that supported that interpretation of substantive due process. And Thomas, a member of the bench’s conservative wing, made that clear in his writings in Friday’s decision.“In future cases, we should reconsider all of this Court’s substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell. Because any substantive due process decision is ‘demonstrably erroneous,’ we have a duty to ‘correct the error’ established in those precedents,” Thomas wrote.And because the court, in its ruling Friday, drew heavily on that very idea — that substantive due process is not in the Constitution — Thomas concluded that almost all other precedents that relied on the doctrine should also be overturned."I join the opinion of the Court because it correctly holds that there is no constitutional right to abortion. Respondents invoke one source for that right: the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantee that no State shall 'deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.' The Court well explains why, under our substantive due process precedents, the purported right to abortion is not a form of ‘liberty’ protected by the Due Process Clause. Such a right is neither 'deeply rooted in this Nation’s history and tradition' nor ‘implicit in the concept of ordered liberty,’” he wrote.Thomas then went even further, writing that the court, after overruling those particular decisions, should eliminate “substantive due process” altogether.“In future cases, we should ‘follow the text of the Constitution, which sets forth certain substantive rights that cannot be taken away, and adds, beyond that, a right to due process when life, liberty, or property is to be taken away,’” he wrote. “Substantive due process conflicts with that textual command and has harmed our country in many ways.""Accordingly," he added, "we should eliminate it from our jurisprudence at the earliest opportunity.”Thomas, who joined the court in 1991 as only the second Black justice in Supreme Court history, dissented in both the Lawrence and Obergefell decisions.In Friday's opinion, Thomas made no mention of Loving v. Virginia, the landmark 1967 ruling by the Supreme Court that struck down laws prohibiting interracial marriage. That decision relied in part on the substantive due process doctrine — and was cited in several subsequent decisions that did as well, including Obergefell in 2015.But Thomas, whose wife is white — meaning their interracial marriage could have been deemed in illegal in certain states had the court not ruled the way it did in Loving — did not mention the 1967 decision as one that should be revisited. In their own opinions, Justices Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh both referred to Loving, writing that it should not be revisited despite its reliance on substantive due process.President Joe Biden, speaking to the nation following the ruling Friday afternoon, specifically addressed Thomas’ analysis, saying it paves an “extreme and dangerous path” that the “court is now taking us on.”“I’ve warned about how this decision risks a broader right to privacy for everyone," Biden said. "That’s because Roe recognized the fundamental right to privacy and has served as a basis for so many more rights that... we’ve come to take for granted, that are ingrained in the fabric of this country: the right to make the best decisions for your health, the right to use birth control, a married couple in the privacy of their bedroom for God’s sake, the right to marry the person you love."“Justice Thomas said as much today. He explicitly called to reconsider the right of marriage equality, the right of couples to make their choices on contraception," Biden added.Thomas' opinion also attracted the ire of prominent civil rights groups, as well as Jim Obergefell, the plaintiff in the 2015 decision that Thomas wants the court to overturn."The millions of loving couples who have the right to marriage equality to form their own families do not need Clarence Thomas imposing his individual twisted morality upon them," Obergefell told NBC News in a statement. "If you want to see an error in judgment, Clarence Thomas, look in the mirror."Sarah Kate Ellis, head of the LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD, called Thomas’ opinion "a blaring red alert for the LGBTQ community and for all Americans.""We will never go back to the dark days of being shut out of hospital rooms, left off of death certificates, refused spousal benefits, or any of the other humiliations that took place in the years before Obergefell," Ellis said in a statement. "And we definitely will not go back to the pre-Lawrence days of being criminalized just because we are LGBTQ.""But that’s exactly what Thomas is threatening to do to the country," Ellis added. | Civil Rights Activism |
Pennsylvania’s Democratic House Minority Leader Rep. Joanna McClinton let loose on fellow lawmakers for betraying women on their reproductive rights — then working to rig the game to make it harder than ever to vote them out of office.“We’re talking about half the population not being able to make decisions when not even half of this body has a uterus,” she said in a furious address Friday to her colleagues. She warned that failing to protect the reproductive rights and health of women will result in “women dying.”McClinton also lashed a GOP-backed state constitutional amendment she charged was meant to make it harder to vote.“Here we are being silenced once again,” McClinton declared. “Understand when you’re silencing [opposition lawmakers] you’re silencing millions of voters from every corner of the commonwealth. When you silence us and don’t allow us to amend bills that won’t let people vote, that won’t allow women to make their own decisions, you’re silencing all of us.”The Pennsylvania Senate on Friday approved a proposal — which was later also supported in a House vote — to add language to the state Constitution stating explicitly that the document does not guarantee any rights relating to abortion or public funding of abortions.A last-minute addition would also require voters to show identification at polling places, not just when they register to vote, which is currently required.The proposed constitutional amendments might not be put to voters until 2024. By Saturday McClinton’s dramatic speech on Twitter had nearly 2 million views, and she had countless new supporters.We could use a lot more fire & passion when discussing the abortion bans. This isn't the time for subtlety. Or following outdated rules of 'civility' that don't apply to both parties equally. It's time to stand up for civil rights of women, to have control over their own bodies.— Carpe Diem (@CaptCarpeDiem) July 9, 2022 If you're wondering, YES, we passed a #PABudget & YES @GovernorTomWolf signed it. So why are we still in Harrisburg??? B/c the majority party wants to spend Friday night attacking women's reproductive rights & our democracy. See for yourself 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾https://t.co/lLKA13Np23— Joanna McClinton (@RepMcClinton) July 8, 2022 | Civil Rights Activism |
"As bad as it was during the era of 'The Janes,'" co-director Tia Lessin told IndieWire, "we're looking at something even more sinister." Back in 2016, after Donald Trump was elected president, documentary producers Emma Pildes and her brother Daniel Arcana had a bad feeling about Trump packing the Supreme Court. The time was right, they decided, to develop a movie about his mother Judith’s late 1960s involvement in Chicago with the underground Abortion Counseling Service of Women’s Liberation, known as The Janes, which provided abortions for some 11,000 women between 1969 and 1972. Seven of the leaders were arrested and were facing a possible 110 years in prison — until the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision came down.
After Brett Kavanaugh was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2018, Pildes approached Oscar-nominated documentarian Tia Lessin (“Trouble the Water”) to co-direct; HBO Documentary Films agreed to back “The Janes,” which started filming in 2019 and debuted at Sundance 2022. It’s currently streaming on HBO Max and Hulu. Slowly but surely the filmmakers found Janes willing to speak on the record. Even though the Janes’ leaders Ruth Surgal and Jody Parsons had died, and other Janes had never come forward even to their own families, it didn’t take long for participants to jump on board. And filmmaker Dorothy Fadiman willingly donated her 1995 interview with Surgal and Parsons.
One Jane, Eileen Smith, told her parents that she dropped out of college to make puppets. Inspired by the “Hamilton” lyric “Who’s going to tell your story?,” she told Lessin, “Well, I’m going to tell my story!” Soon, when the overturn of Roe v. Wade became a certainty, the floodgates opened. “We knew that these women’s voices would be useful in a new way,” said Pildes. “And they were up for it.”
But finding women who actually obtained abortions from the Janes was more difficult. Finally the filmmakers took out a newspaper ad in The Chicago Reader. “We went old school to find one of the 11,000 women who came through the service,” Pildes told IndieWire. Dorie Brown called them and recounted the story that opens the movie, comparing her Janes abortion with her back alley mob abortion. “It was a gift from the newspaper gods. We got lucky.”
The Janes serviced women not only from Chicago and Illinois but all over the midwest: Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, where abortions were also illegal. When the scale of the demand became clear, the Janes, who were homemakers, mothers, and students, took all their student experience from the Civil Rights and Anti-War movements and applied them to getting organized on a grand scale, protecting the identities of their patients via secret locations. When one abortion doctor turned out to not be an M.D., the Janes recognized that women within their ranks could learn the procedure, too.
“As the word spread, it became quite clear that not only was there a need, but there was an incredible void,” said Lessin. “There were just too few private physicians willing to risk their medical license and prison time. And they were primarily serving wealthy women of means, who could also go outside of the country and the state for legal procedures. So, this was a massive endeavor. When this chance came, they came at it with smarts and were infinitely resourceful. They were up to the task.” Demonstrators protest outside of the U.S. Supreme CourtAP
What shocked the filmmakers and many viewers of the Sundance entry was not just the scale of the demand for abortions, but the existence of septic abortion wards in hospitals across the country set up to handle sick women wounded by back alley and self-inflicted abortions. The filmmakers debated where to put that story in the film: they opted to edit it in early. “We needed to understand the stakes of this drama and why these women were willing to risk so much at such a young age,” said Lessin.
The wards were eerily silent, as no family came to visit the ailing women. At Cook County Hospital, Dr. Alan Weiland was accustomed to calling the morgue once a week. “That was a gut punch to take in,” said Pildes. “It spurred us on. That was something we created the need for. Within a year of Roe passing, they became obsolete, there was no need for them. And I don’t see any way that we’re not going to be going back there. The realities of criminalizing abortions are going to be the same.”
“Roe v. Wade has been in the crosshairs of the Supreme Court and the extreme right for a long time,” said Lessin. “How could we go backwards 50 years? How could we be having the same battle? It came as a brutal shock. [Judge Samuel] Alito was saying that Roe v. Wade was egregiously wrong. No. What’s egregiously wrong is women ending up in septic abortion wards.”
She continued, “This isn’t just about going after abortion rights. They’re laying the groundwork for the rescinding of marriage equality, potentially for the reinstatement of sodomy laws, curbing access to contraceptives. Many of the laws that are being passed now by the state legislatures in the Dakotas, Oklahoma, and Texas are much worse than anything that existed pre-Roe. In Ohio, they are looking at a law with no exceptions for rape and incest. They’re criminalizing interstate travel for abortions. That wasn’t a thing, pre-Roe. They’re incentivizing vigilantes in Texas to go after their neighbors and friends and offering them bounties. As bad as it was during the era of ‘The Janes,’ we’re looking at something even more sinister.” For their dramatic cloak and dagger saga, the filmmakers decided to stick to “The Janes” story, figuring that “the audience can connect the dots to the present day,” said Pildes. “We don’t need to hold people’s hands. It’s very clear. The same low income people are going to suffer. There’s so much that’s the same.”
Needless to say the film has hit some viewers hard. At one screening in Washington, DC, a woman raised her hand in the audience during the Q&A. She said: “My grandmother had a back alley abortion and died when my mother was five years old,” according to Lessin. “So her mother grew up motherless because of this. And another woman in her sixties just found out that she was named after a cousin of her mother’s who had died from a back alley abortion, and that her parents had never told her because they didn’t want her burdened with that knowledge.”
Another woman went ahead and gave birth to her child and married an abusive husband. “It’s not just that women are going to die,” said Pildes. “It’s that we are crushing them. We’re taking away their freedom, and we are starving ourselves of what they could have given to the world. The implications of this are going to be felt so deeply for so long.” The filmmakers plan a college tour for the fall, as well as screenings at churches and synagogues. “We’ve heard from folks at all sorts of organizations at the forefront of this struggle,” said Lessin, “that feel like this film will help engage the people that need to be engaged in this fight.” Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. | Civil Rights Activism |
Greg Nash Protesters for and against abortion rights demonstrate outside the Supreme Court on Friday, June 24, 2022 in anticipation of an opinion that could strike Roe v. Wade. The NAACP on Friday blasted the Supreme Court’s decision overturning nearly 50 years of precedent that allowed women a constitutional right to abortion, saying it will disproportionately affect Black women. The civil rights organization called the conservative majority court’s 6-3 decision overturning Roe v. Wade an “egregious assault on basic human rights.” “This Supreme Court is turning back the clock to a dangerous era where basic constitutional rights only exist for a select few,” said Portia White, policy and legislative affairs vice president for the NAACP. “They’ve stripped away our right to vote, and now women have lost their right to their own body. What’s next?” A study from Duke University published in December suggested that a complete abortion ban could increase Black maternal deaths by 33 percent. Several states have already moved to outlaw the procedure following the court’s ruling, though abortion will remain legal in about half of states. The court’s ruling came hours after the White House outlined its plan to address the high mortality rate in the U.S., in which Black women face some of the worst pregnancy-related health outcomes. Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications and twice as likely to lose an infant to premature death. The NAACP is urging voters to hit the polls in November following the court’s ruling. The organization has partnered with Vote.org to register and mobilize voters ahead of the midterms. “”Today’s Supreme Court decision marks a significant regression of our country,” said Janette McCarthy Wallace, NAACP general counsel. “We must all stand up to have our voices heard in order to protect our nation from the further degradation of civil rights protections we have worked so hard to secure.” Tags abortion rights maternal mortality rate Roe v. Wade | Civil Rights Activism |
Activist Annie Wu, a Chinese adoptee, said she’s repeatedly heard the question, “What if you were aborted?” It’s an all-too-common hypothetical that anti-abortion proponents have lobbed at adoptees who publicly defend reproductive rights, particularly amid the recent fall of Roe v. Wade. ”If my birth mother aborted me, that would be FINE with me. I would not exist so I would not care or be impacted,” Wu, a digital organizer with nonprofit PA Stands Up, wrote in an Instagram post. Many adoptee activists who support abortion rights say they are uniquely positioned in the crosshairs of the debate: Their very existences are often “manipulated” to advance anti-abortion views — with adoption framed as the moral alternative to abortion. They find themselves vulnerable to harassment, their experiences questioned or made light of, and their agency too often removed in the fight, they say. Wu, who said she’s received support from many in the adoptee community, said she has been accused of supporting “murder” and been asked hypothetical questions about if “someone was to walk up and kill you right now.” “How do I grapple with that? That my existence was a winning argument in a debate that eradicated my own rights, the rights of so many other people and has set into motion what is probably going to be the unfurling of more civil rights across the board?”Stephanie DrenkaStephanie Drenka, a Korean adoptee and editor of Visible Magazine, told NBC News that adoptees have long been demanding an end to the weaponization of their stories from anti-abortion activists and those in power. Justice Samuel Alito, for example, wrote on behalf of the majority opinion in the Dobbs v. Jackson case, that “a woman who puts her newborn up for adoption today has little reason to fear that the baby will not find a suitable home.” “How do I grapple with that? That my existence was a winning argument in a debate that eradicated my own rights, the rights of so many other people and has set into motion what is probably going to be the unfurling of more civil rights across the board?” Drenka said. Annie Wu, a digital organizer with nonprofit PA Stands Up.Courtesy Annie WuWith the landmark 1973 ruling overturned and almost two dozen states poised to ban or severely restrict abortion access, the backlash they’ve had to shoulder takes a toll, many adoptees say. “The vitriol is just the assumption that as adoptees we don’t deserve to have a say in our reproductive rights because of our adopted status,” Drenka said. “That’s just a pattern of the dehumanization and sort of the infantilization that adoptees face. We are seen as commodities from birth and then when we grow up and we speak our minds, we’re silenced.” While the adoptee community is no monolith, more often pro-abortion activists are left validating their own experiences against adoptive parents or those whose lives are not touched by the process, rather than other adoptees. Becky Belcore, an advisory board member of the Adoptees for Justice project who’s a Korean adoptee, said that adoptees most often field hypothetical questions around how they would feel if they were aborted. Many anti-abortion activists, she said, have attempted to remind adoptees that they would not be alive had the choice been given. But Wu said that the argument is moot. “To me, it’s just like saying, ‘Well, what if your parents were just tired that night?’ Or ‘What if you used a condom that night?’” she said. Being told to feel ‘grateful’ for being adopted and other adoptee traumaThe activists also said they face implications that they should be “grateful” to be alive. Drenka said she’s heard adoption described with sunny terms like “blessing” and that adoptees should feel “lucky.” She added that like many others, on the surface, her own story reads like a happy ending. However, outsiders fail to calculate the loss that’s integral to every adoption. “We had no control over our situation. As much as any person who is born can be grateful to be alive, this is just the life that we have.”Becky Belcore“I spent three months with a foster mother and then was adopted by a very loving white family and I had all of the opportunities in the world. I actually found my birth family and have a relationship with them,” she said. “But what people don’t like to think about is the trauma that my birth mother experienced when she had to relinquish me, as my birth father forced her to do that.”Belcore emphasized that adoptees, of course, have no obligation to feel grateful. “We had no control over our situation. As much as any person who is born can be grateful to be alive, this is just the life that we have,” she said. “It is our experience. Some of it has been really terrible for people.”Because of the significant amount of transnational and interracial adoptions, some adoptees deal with racist or xenophobic comments, as well. Wu said she finds that some commenters tend to fixate on her background as a woman of Chinese descent. “They’re just telling me to go back to China, or I should be grateful that I’m not living under the Chinese government,” Wu said, adding that oftentimes commenters will elaborate, painting China as a particularly oppressed nation. Not only are the comments racist, Wu said, but they’re also “hypocritical.”“What the United States government is doing now is controlling part of the population that’s able to reproduce and telling them that they have to reproduce.”But many who support abortion rights have also been guilty of making light of adoption, too, the activists said. After a photo of a couple holding a “we will adopt your baby” poster went viral following the end of Roe, others turned the picture into a viral meme, poking fun at those who ascribe to the notion of adoption as a solution. “In general, when discussing any of this, people should be making sure they’re not just using something as a talking point — you’re actually advocating for the people behind it.”Annie WuBelcore and Wu both said that the use of humor in the situation is understandable as a way to cope and illustrate absurdity. But Wu underscored that these memes can also be insensitive without context. “In general, when discussing any of this, people should be making sure they’re not just using something as a talking point — you’re actually advocating for the people behind it,” Wu said. Belcore said the issue, quite simply, is too heavy to be fully represented in a meme. “If anyone thought about how they’d been separated from their birth parents and grew up in another family, that would have pretty serious consequences on your life,” she said. “If you just take a moment to think about that, then you would be more curious to learn more about it.” Adoptees say they have to hold ‘multiple things as true simultaneously’Adoptees say that the backlash can be difficult to stomach, particularly for those who did not have good experiences with their adoptive families. Belcore said that these conversations can potentially be a trigger. “Those of us that did not have good adoption placements, it makes people pretty angry, because many don’t think about what happens to the life of the child after they’re adopted and the long lasting impact of that as we grow into adults,” Belcore said. “That’s pretty infuriating.”Drenka and Wu said they both have healthy, loving relationships with their adoptive parents and feel pressure to over-explain their stance so it’s not misconstrued. Both say the complexity in their experiences is too often erased or flattened.“One of the most difficult aspects of being adopted is having to hold multiple things as true simultaneously,” Drenka said. “When things like this happen, I have to acknowledge that I did live a privileged life as an adoptee, and I also experienced trauma as an infant and ongoing trauma [from] being disconnected from my roots and not having access to information that most people take for granted.”But Drenka said she’s not backing down and urges people to listen to adoptees’ stories. “I feel like I’ve been practicing for this moment. I’ve been exercising what it means to tell my story in spaces that are not necessarily safe for several years,” Drenka said. “But we know that adoptees … are typically in spaces where we feel like we don’t belong or nobody understands. So I will continue to work to share my story if it just reaches one of them.” | Civil Rights Activism |
Friday’s Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade prompted immediate protests nationwide, as access to reproductive health care was dramatically and immediately curtailed across the country.Only 16 states and Washington, D.C., have laws explicitly protecting the right to an abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a pro-abortion rights research institution.Outside a fenced-off Supreme Court, a heavy police presence gathered before the decision’s announcement. Thousands of protesters soon joined them, with others congregating around the nation in public squares and outside state legislatures and courthouses.In Washington, Theresa Irish, 47, told HuffPost she’d come to ask the U.S. Senate if it was OK for her to get a hangnail removed, “because apparently they have rights over my body that I was unaware of.”“I’m very upset by this decision,” she added. “I don’t think the government has any right to step in and say what I can do with my body. What happens between me and my doctor is 100% between me and my doctor.”Mary Irish, 73, said she was disappointed in the decision itself and also the Supreme Court more broadly, which she says has become “very political.”“I was there when a friend of mine had an illegal abortion,” Mary said. “It was horrifying. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”Abortion rights activists react to the seismic court decision overturning Roe v. Wade outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on June 24.OLIVIER DOULIERY via Getty Images“I didn’t want to be here, I didn’t think I had to be here because it’s settled law,” a woman who identified herself as Cathy told NBC Washington outside the Supreme Court on Friday.“I hope you know that, Clarence Thomas, and I hope you know that, Alito, and the rest of the justices that voted to overturn Roe V. Wade. I am very disappointed, it’s not going to stop abortions, it’s just going to make them unsafe.”In anticipation of growing demonstrations over the decision, the Metropolitan Police Department initiated a full activation through Tuesday, June 28, along with D.C. Homeland Security.CNN Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju captured U.S. Capitol Police headed to the court outfitted in riot gear:Calls for protests across the country Friday evening sprang up everywhere from San Antonio to Detroit, where police began installing barricades Friday morning in anticipation of protesters later.In Arkansas, where abortion is now illegal except when necessary to protect the life of the mother, two women gathered outside the state Capitol building to voice their anger.“I wish I could abort my government,” read one woman’s sign. The other held a drawing of stone tablets reminiscent of the Ten Commandments but with two additions: “Thou shalt not steal my civil rights” and “Thou shalt not steal my reproductive rights.”Outside the Jackson Women’s Health Organization in Jackson, Mississippi, where the lawsuit that led to Roe’s overturn initiated, tensions ran high. Video from Fox8 New Orleans showed anti-abortion protesters, some with megaphones, flanking the entrance to the clinic while escorts in colorful vests waved cars in and out.Polling shows a majority of Americans ― 55% in a recent Gallup poll ― consider themselves “pro-choice,” the highest number Gallup has measured since 1995. | Civil Rights Activism |
A person holds placards as Black Feminist Future and SisterSong: Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, accompanied by a range of civil rights and Black-led partner organizations, hold a "Black Bodies for Black Power" rally in Washington, U.S. June 18, 2022. REUTERS/Shuran HuangRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comWASHINGTON, June 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn a woman's constitutional right to an abortion is expected to have a disproportionate impact on Black women and other women of color, who have traditionally faced overwhelming costs and logistical obstacles in obtaining reproductive healthcare, experts said.The reversal of Roe v Wade leaves the decision of whether or not an abortion is legal in the hands of state governments. While some states have recently reaffirmed the right to an abortion, 26 states are likely or certain to ban abortion in most or all circumstances.More Black women live in states that will ban abortion and those living in southern states - with the most restrictive laws - will bear the brunt. For example, Black people make up about 38 percent of Mississippi's population, according to recent Census data, compared to about 13% of the U.S. population overall.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comBlack women in the United States are nearly four times more likely to have abortions than White women, while Latina women are twice as likely, according to 2019 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Health experts trace the relatively high rates of abortion among Black women to disparities in access to healthcare, including lack of health insurance and contraceptives in underserved communities.In Mississippi, Black women accounted for 74 percent of abortions in 2019, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation."There is no denying the fact that this is a direct attack on all women, and Black women stand to be disproportionately impacted by the court's egregious assault on basic human rights," said Janette McCarthy Wallace, general counsel for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).If more Black women are forced to carry pregnancies to term, there will be a disproportionate increase in deaths of Black women in childbirth, a study from Duke University finds.More American women overall die of childbirth every year than in any other developed nation, according to the White House. And Black women in the United States die in childbirth at a rate three times white women, data shared by the White House show.A full abortion ban could further increase Black maternal deaths by 33%, compared to a 21% increase for the overall population, the Duke study says.The Supreme Court ruling "marks the beginning of a new public health crisis for Black women," said Michelle Webb, chief communications officer of the Black Women's Health Imperative, a non-profit focused on improving the health of Black women.LONG-TERM FINANCIAL DISTRESSWomen who are forced to have an unwanted baby are more likely to be in poverty and experience financial distress for years afterward, with higher rates of evictions and bankruptcies, research including a 2020 paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research shows.When a woman is not able to obtain an abortion, the psychological impact of such an action hampers productivity, it said. Women also face medical costs associated with prenatal care, birth, postpartum recovery in addition to costs associated with raising a child that typically exceed $9000 a year, the research showed."Abortion rights are economic rights," said Heidi Shierholz, president of the Economic Policy Institute. "This decision means the loss of economic security, independence, and mobility for abortion seekers," she said, which will impact women of color the most.(This story corrects paragraph 5 to show abortion rates for Black women are nearly 4 times higher and not 5 times higher)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Nandita Bose in Washington, Editing by Heather TimmonsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Civil Rights Activism |
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 24: Clifford Alexander, Jr., foreground, greets an attendee after a ... [+] dialogue featuring poet Elizabeth Alexander, upper left background, September, 24, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images) The Washington Post via Getty Images When Clifford Alexander, Jr., the first Black secretary of the Army, died Sunday at 88, he left behind several important examples and lessons for business leaders to follow. Alexander was an advisor to President Lyndon B. Johnson and chairman of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission [EEOC]. “Perhaps the major challenge during my time in office [as chairman of the EEOC] was getting employers to understand how much more needed to be done to give women their fair share of employment opportunities,” Alexander once recalled. The Washington Post noted that “Guided by powerful mentors in academia, law and government, Mr. Alexander was the first Black student-body president at Harvard University, the first Black partner at the elite Washington law firm Arnold & Porter and spent his career seeking to shatter racial boundaries with statesmanlike calm. He seemed destined for elective office but lost a close race for D.C. mayor in 1974, shortly after the city won home rule.” Alexander recounted to Military History the resistance and bias he encountered as Army secretary. “I remember what I considered a racist cartoon in Army Times. I think there were some who resisted me because I was the Black secretary of the Army. And on some occasions in front of Congress I thought that the questions were aimed more at me because of my color than according to my skill set. But that was a fact of the day, and I did my best to do my job—and just say, ‘The hell with you!’ If it was based on something else.” Taking A Stand In 2009, Alexander called on President Barack Obama and Congress to repeal the Pentagon’s “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. In an interview with Democracy Now, he said “The policy is an absurdity and borderline on being an obscenity. What it does is cause people to ask of themselves that they lie to themselves, that they pretend to be something that they are not. “There is no empirical evidence that would indicate that it affects military cohesion. There is a lot of evidence to say that the biases of the past have been layered onto the United States Army.” The policy was abolished in 2011.
Fighting Workplace Segregation And Discrimination “Perhaps no American has done more to combat segregation and discrimination in private employment and the military. His dignity and resolve in the face of hatred were inspirational,” Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League said via email.
“Cliff saw his role as secretary of the Army as a key extension of the civil rights movement, and he inaugurated and enforced policies that were spectacularly effective in achieving his goal,” the Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., a longtime friend, said in a phone interview with the New York Times. “The fact that the United States military is, perhaps, the most integrated institution in our society can be traced to the foresight of Clifford Alexander,” Gates added.
A Groundbreaking Career
“If Alexander had influenced the only the political arena where he worked for decades, he still would be an inspiration today. However, the causes he fought for, like the Voting Rights Act, made a difference in the military, in workplaces, and on the streets in communities of color, as the civil rights movement grew and evolved,” Morial observed. WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 24: Clifford Alexander, Jr., foreground, greets an attendee after a ... [+] dialogue featuring poet Elizabeth Alexander, upper left background, September, 24, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images) The Washington Post via Getty Images Emulating A Model Of Progress
“Business leaders from all industries should consider, as Alexander did, how our movements forward on matters in our workplaces, can become models of progress that can be made in many other [areas],in our country,” Morial observed.
“Alexander applied the lessons learned as EEOC chair under Presidents Johnson and Nixon to his position as secretary of the Army under President Carter. Business leaders can learn from Alexander how valuable knowledge that is garnered in one position can fuel their next position, even when these subsequent roles are not identical in nature. And when implemented strategically, and with a focus on the elements that achieved the initial positive outcome, success can be duplicated a second time, to create [an] even greater impact,” he concluded.
An Advocate For Inclusion During his tenure as Army secretary, “there was an increase in Black general officers in the U.S. Army by 5%, totaling 30. This group included former Joint Chief of Staff Chairman and the first black Secretary of State Colin Powell, “ according to Ken Mayes the employer relationship navigator at Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families Onward to Opportunity program. Mayes recalled that in a 2018 Fox news interview, Alexander “spoke about a New York City subway ad that displayed a picture of all white subway riders and no women or people of color in the campaign ad. He described this as a miscalculation of an accurate representation of reality because it is not very often that you will see a New York subway station without women or people of color sharing a ride. As an organization develops its marketing strategy, it should strive for inclusion when representing its internal structure or the markets it serves.”
Mayes noted Alexander advocated that inclusion should “address that employees are not only diverse but work well together. Nevertheless, it could be seen as essential for organizations to stress that they are attracting diverse employees and that all employees represent the organization. “For this to happen, they not only need to communicate their diversity brand but also their inclusion brand,” he said. | Civil Rights Activism |