By John Blake, CNN (CNN) – Cutting taxes for the rich helps the poor. There is no such thing as a Republican or a Democratic judge. Climate change is a hoax. Some political myths refuse to die despite all evidence the contrary. Here’s another: When White people are no longer a majority, racism will fade […]
By SPL Center With a rise in hate violence across the country, a new report from the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) and 16 leading civil rights organizations provides a groundbreaking analysis of state and federal hate crime laws. The report features a foreword by Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard and Board/Chair President of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. (Read the report.) The partners releasing the report […]
By Liz Vinson Behind the steel gates of a remote immigrant prison in Georgia lies a visitation room where detained people speak to visitors through a plexiglass window. There are messages etched on the visitor’s side – words the detained men and women sitting opposite can’t see. “Be anxious for nothing,” one message reads. “I’m […]
A young Black woman demonstrator at a rally at the Capitol protests voting rights limitations contained in bills written by Republicans in the state legislature. – Austin, TX, USA – July 31, 2021 (Shutterstock) By Merrick B. Garland, Washington Post Our society is shaped not only by the rights it declares but also by its […]
By Maeve Sheehey and Rebecca Rainey, Politico The Biden administration announced Monday that long Covid, a condition where people experience long-term Covid-19 symptoms long after clearing the actual virus from their system, could be considered a disability under civil rights laws. The White House announced the new long Covid guidance on the 31st anniversary of […]
By Victoria Falk Just a few months after New York’s Governor, Andrew Cuomo, signed legislation on March 31, 2021, legalizing recreational marijuana use for adults in New York State, Senator Chuck Schumer is pushing forward to propose federal decriminalization of marijuana. Effective March 31, 2021, the new law allowed adults aged 21-years-old and over to […]
Brooklyn, N.Y. — U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, joined by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, stood in front of Brooklyn Borough Hall to announce the Hadiya Pendleton and Nyasia Pryear-Yard Gun Trafficking & Crime Prevention Act. Named for two teenage girls in Brooklyn and Chicago, IL, the bill seeks to address the illegal transfer of guns across state lines […]
Just about every U.S. citizen knows their Miranda Rights. They’ve heard them in television shows and films since they were kids. The recitation of rights goes something like this: You have the right to remain silent. Anything that you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the […]
By Jamel K. Donnor, The Conversation Two Black students – Ikeria Washington and Layla Temple – were named valedictorian and salutatorian at West Point High School in Mississippi in 2021. Shortly afterward, two white parents questioned whether school officials had correctly calculated the top academic honors. Ultimately, the school superintendent named two white students as […]
You were driving to work one morning when you become involved in a car accident. What do you do now? A car accident can be an emotionally taxing and overwhelming experience. Knowing what to do in this unfortunate situation can make a significant difference in the days or weeks to come. Continue reading to learn […]
By Eric Gonzalez and Kassandra Frederique, The Hill A unanimous Supreme Court last week held that people convicted of certain low-level crack cocaine offenses are not eligible for resentencing under the First Step Act, a sentencing reform bill passed in 2018 with bipartisan support that was meant to provide retroactive relief to those serving sentences […]
By Sian Mughan, The Conversation Imagine being unable to pay a US$50 traffic ticket and, as a result, facing mounting fees so high that even after paying hundreds, maybe thousands, of dollars toward your debt you still owe money. Imagine being fired from your job because you’ve been forced to use unreliable public transportation instead […]
By SPLC Isaiah Elliott was suspended from seventh grade for holding a toy gun in an online art class. Ka’Mauri Harrison, 9, faced nearly two weeks of suspension for picking up a BB gun in his own bedroom – after his brother had tripped over it. A 15-year-old girl was incarcerated for not doing her […]
There are many circumstances when individuals or companies may stop providing certain services. For example, neglecting to pay monthly utility bills could result in the cessation of electricity and other services. Similarly, insurance companies may be able to cease payment of workers’ comp benefits under certain circumstances. However, you may be able to get the […]
On Tuesday, May 25, 2021, history was made. Kristen Clarke was confirmed as the first woman and first woman of color to lead the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice. Clarke’s career was launched in the office that she now leads. She personally prosecuted crimes based on hatred and bigotry, human trafficking, domestic […]