Author: Feminist Newswire

The Feminist Newswire has provided a daily feminist perspective on national, global, and campus news stories since 1995. You can receive a weekly feminist news digest when you subscribe here.

Transgender Woman Elected Mayor in India

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Raigarh, a city of 300,000 in the state of Chhattisgarh, India has become the first city in India to elect a transgender mayor.

via The Telegraph
via The Telegraph

On Sunday, independent candidate Madhu Kinnar was elected mayor over Mahaveer Guruji of the popular Bharatiya Janata Party by more than 4,500 votes.

Nine months before, the Indian Supreme Court declared transgender people, known as hijras, as a legal third gender in a landmark ruling that legally recognized the identities of an estimated two million people in the nation. Since the ruling, all legal documents include a third category for transgender people, and the government has been required to construct separate public bathrooms and special hospital wards.

Kinnar, who comes from the “low caste” community Dalit, used to earn her money singing and dancing in trains. She says she was overwhelmed by the support she received from the public.

“I consider this win as love and blessings of people for me. I’ll put in my best efforts to accomplish their dreams,” Kinnar said.

Media Resources: Feminist Newswire 4/17/14; BBC News 4/15/14; Reuters 1/5/15

Avalanche of Right-Wing Legislation Expected in Republican States

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The 24 states where Republicans now hold total control are planning a “juggernaut of conservative legislation” that could especially impact women’s access to reproductive health, according to the Washington Post.

via Shutterstock
via Shutterstock

States like Tennessee can expect to see further restrictions on abortion access in the coming months, following an amendment to the state constitution that was narrowly passed in November. Tennessee’s Amendment 1 takes away privacy rights for abortion and birth control access and permits state legislators to pass laws restricting abortion and birth control. Republican State House Speaker Beth Harwell plans to take up three more restrictive measures, previously struck down by the state Supreme Court. Because of Tennessee’s privacy clause that was amended by Amendment 1. The three, if passed by the Tennessee legislators, measures would require a woman seeking an abortion to go through a waiting period and receive mandatory counseling, and would mandate stricter inspections for clinics.

Attacks on labor unions are to be expected as well, as Republican legislators plan to take up dozens of measures that challenge the power of labor union. Many of these measures are designed to weaken labor unions. Moreover, bills designed to privatize many social services, such as kindergarten development, are expected.

Right-wing legislation advocated by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a right-wing think tank that promotes model legislation, is going to eliminate defined benefit pension systems and replace it with a defined contribution system. A prime target will be public employees’ pension plans, which would directly affect state employees in traditionally female roles, such as teachers, administrative staff, hospital workers, but would also impact firefighters and police officers.

Media Resources: Feminist Newswire 11/5/201; Washington Post 1/5/2015;

More Women Agents at the Border Could Mitigate Sexual Assault Crisis

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Following rampant accusations of sexual assault and harassment of female migrants, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is looking to boost the number of female agents on staff.

via Shutterstock
via Shutterstock

Right now, of the 21,000 agents serving the CBP, only about 5 percent are female. This week, Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske said the department has received over 5500 applications from potential female recruits since kicking off a hiring spree in early December. These developments come on the heels of increasing complaints against CBP and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) alleging staff members have sexually abused children and female detainees, compounding a journey that is often traumatic enough on its own.

Writing for the New York Times, Katherine Spillar, Executive Director of the Feminist Majority Foundation, stressed the need to increase the number of female officers in order to stem violence often initiated by male members of law enforcement agencies:

Research conducted nationally and internationally for more than four decades has found that women police officers not only do their jobs as well as men, but are less authoritarian, use force less often, communicate better, and are better at defusing potentially violent confrontations than their male counterparts.

According to Federal News Radio, at least 50 women reported being sexually assaulted by human traffickers on the way to the United States. Amnesty International estimates that as many as 60 percent of the women who come to the US from Central America and Mexico are sexually assaulted during the trip.

Last month, Juanita Molina, executive director of the Border Action Network said the number of female migrants has nearly tripled since 2011, but the number of field agents has remained low. “Most women are victimized by men,” Molina said, “So having a first responder who’s a man inherently creates mistrust.”

CBP Commissioner Kerlikowske seems to agree. In an interview last month, he said, “women bring a perspective and negotiating skill to law enforcement and to the border patrol that we very much need.” CBP aims to hire 1,600 agents by the end of September 2015.

Media Resources: Feminist Newswire 6/19/14, 10/9/14; New York Times 11/26/14; Federal News Radio 12/9/14, 12/30/14; Washington Post 1/1/15

Little League Star Mo’ne Davis Honored by AP and Sports Illustrated

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A vote by news directors and US editors at the Associated Press named Mo’ne Davis the 2014 Female Athlete of the Year, making her the youngest person to receive the title. She was also named the 2014 Sports Kid of the Year by Sports Illustrated.

via Evan Habeeb for USA TODAY Sports
via Evan Habeeb for USA TODAY Sports

Davis, a pitcher, was the breakout star of the 2014 Little League World Series, where she threw a two-hitter to help Philadelphia beat Nashville 4-0 in the opener and had eight strikeouts without walking a single batter. She’s already playing for her high school’s varsity team – even though she is 13 years old and in eighth grade.

After her performance at the Little League World Series, Davis became a celebrity. She met the Obamas, was in a commercial directed by Spike Lee, and was on the cover of Sports Illustrated Kids. Davis’ message to those who look up to her is: “Always follow your dreams. If there’s something people tell you that you can’t do it, go for it.”

The Little League allowed girls to play for the first time in 1974, after a several year campaign waged by the National Organization for Women. “I can remember it well,” Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority Foundation and then President of Pennsylvania NOW told Feminist Newswire. “We picketed the Little League World Series in Williamsburg, Pennsylvania with the slogan ‘Give Girls a Chance.'” Little League was sued by girls in several states with the help of NOW. Finally, in 1974, a New Jersey Court ordered Little League to allow girls to try out. Little League not only integrated its baseball program, but also set up a softball program for girls. On December 26, 1974 President Gerald Ford signed legislation opening Little League to participation by girls by changing its federal charter to include “young people” rather than “boys”.

Davis – an honor student who plays three sports (she plays basketball and soccer, too) – is aiming for the WNBA, but until then says she wants to continue playing three sports in high school. Steve Bandura, who helped coach Davis, said the fame and busy lifestyle doesn’t stop her from being a kid.

Media Resources: Associated Press 12/29/2014; Mic 12/30/2014

#BlackLivesMatter Movement Takes On Racist Coverage by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation Companies

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Over a thousand protesters are slated to rally outside Fox News headquarters today to protest racist coverage of anti-police brutality movements across the country by both Fox News and newspaper The New York Post.

via Stephen Melkisethian
via Stephen Melkisethian

At 2 PM today, protesters will gather in front of News Corporation headquarters and host a “die-in shutdown” that is expected to last until 7 PM. At 5 PM, the rally will move to Wall Street with a speak-out, and at 7 PM a meeting for anyone interested in participating in planning further protests will be held at 60 Wall Street in the Public Atrium.

News Corporation, owned and founded by Rupert Murdoch, controls a network of media, news, and education companies. The New York Post and Fox News have been the recipients of complaints and accusations of racist coverage and commentary on the cases of victims of police brutality such as the Michael Brown case in Ferguson, Missouri, and the Eric Garner case in Staten Island, New York. Fox News has received negative feedback in the past for racist or sexist comments said on air, most recently for editing footage from a police brutality protest. The footage showed activist Tawanda Jones leading a chant “we won’t stop, we can’t stop, ‘till killer cops, are in cell blocks,” although Fox News stopped the chant to sound like “we won’t stop, we can’t stop, go kill a cop.” They have since apologized to Jones, calling the edit an “honest mistake”.

This protest is said to be the first in a larger campaign for justice organized by #BlackLivesMatter Justice for Eric Garner Assembly, who created a list of short and long term demands.

Media Resources: HuffingtonPost 7/14/14; The Guardian 7/25/14; The Daily Kos 12/23/14;

Fate of 15-Foot Buffer Zone On Hold in Pittsburgh

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The fate of a 15-foot buffer zone in Pittsburgh could be determined by a federal judge if city lawyers and anti-abortion protesters don’t come to an agreement first.

via Priya Deonarain
via Priya Deonarain

Earlier this month, US District Judge Cathy Bissoon heard oral arguments from attorneys representing the city of Pittsburgh and attorneys representing five anti-abortion protesters who demanded an injunction against a city ordinance that they say is selectively enforced and meant to censor them.

The Alliance Defending Freedom, the religious advocacy group representing the anti-abortion protesters, argued that their clients’ ability to offer, self-described “sidewalk counseling” as women enter the local Planned Parenthood is inhibited by the 2005 ordinance. However, the city contends that the zone is “content neutral,” applying not only to abortion clinics, but all “hospital or health care [facilities].”

Michael Kennedy, assistant city solicitor, said the ordinance was specifically enacted to prevent confrontations from flaring up between anti-abortion protesters and clinic employees and patients.

Judge Bissoon asked the parties to attempt to reach an agreement on their own. Friday, lawyers for both sides said they will continue negotiations, but will also file a final set of legal arguments before the judge rules on  a motion seeking to bar the city from enforcing the buffer zone.

This summer, the US Supreme Court sided with anti-abortion demonstrators in McCullen v. Coakley, ruling that a 35-foot buffer zone law in Massachusetts was unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds.

Following the decision, Feminist Majority Foundation President Eleanor Smeal said, “The Court’s decision failed to acknowledge that the Massachusetts law was enacted after the murder of two clinic receptionists, Shannon Lowney, 25, and Lee Ann Nichols, 38, by anti-abortion extremist John Salvi at two separate clinics in Brookline.” Five other people were wounded in the Massachusetts attacks in December 1994.

A final decision in the Pittsburgh buffer zone case is expected next year.

Media Resources: Feminist Newswire 6/26/14, 8/6/14; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 12/3/14; Columbus Ledger Enquirer 12/21/14; WPXI-TV 12/21/14

Boko Haram Kidnapped 172 More Women and Children, Officials Report

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According to local officials and residents, Boko Haram insurgents kidnapped at least 172 women and children and killed 35 people last week.

via Michael Fleshman
via Michael Fleshman

“They gathered the women and children and took them away in trucks after burning most of the village with petrol bombs,” a local government official reported anonymously.

Reports of the attack in northeastern Nigeria took days to become public news due to a lack of communication – it has been known that telecommunications towers in the area were disabled in previous attacks. Residents from the area fled to another area, where local officials finally learned of the attack.

Local vigilantes from the village of Gumsuri who were previously able to hold off the insurgents’ attacks were reportedly overwhelmed by the most recent attack.

‎”They destroyed almost half the village and took away 185 women, girls and boys,” Umar Ari, a resident who fled the area, said.‎

Boko Haram has not officially taken responsibility for this most recent attack, but the attack closely resembled the group’s common methods. According to residents, gunfire was preceded by insurgents shouting, “God is great!”

Other residents reported insurgents fired machine guns and used gasoline to set houses on fire. Hundreds of Gumsuri residents have fled to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. Maiduguri is struggling to deal with the numbers of people fleeing to the city from Boko Haram attacks in their hometowns.

Boko Haram attacks have been commonplace since around 2009. The terrorist group has attacked schools, kidnapped women and children, and bombed government buildings. The most internationally well-known attack was over the summer when Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls. The kidnapping inspired the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls, but activism surrounding the incident faded with time when the girls were not rescued.

According to a US Congresional Research Service report, Boko Haram has been involved in the deaths of more than 5,000 people, and kidnappings have become more frequent this year.

Media Resources: CNN 12/18/2014; Reuters 12/18/2014; Feminist Newswire 10/23/14, 11/7/14

 

McDonald’s Responsible for 86 Cases of Misconduct Against Workers

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The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled Friday that the McDonald’s corporation is responsible for several dozen complaints of retaliatory conduct against workers fighting for job improvements.

via Mike Mozart
via Mike Mozart

Since November 2012, 291 charges have been filed against McDonald’s franchisees. Of that number, the NLRB said it found 86 cases of unlawful conduct which included firings, reduced hours, threats, surveillance, and discriminatory discipline against workers who participated in organized and legally protected activity. Of the 291 charges that were filed, 11 cases were resolved, and another 71 remain under investigation.

Friday, the NLRB elected to name the McDonald’s corporation as a joint employer with McDonald’s franchisees, a move that trade groups have criticized. According to Reuters, the NLRB has traditionally held that franchisers may only be held liable if they are involved in setting wages and hiring workers. If the cases cannot be resolved through settlement, they could go before an administrative law judge beginning in March 2015. Cases have been launched in 13 regions across the country, including cities in New York and California, where the Department of Labor reported egregious wage theft violations earlier this month.

Speaking for the National Employment Law Project, General Counselor Catherine Ruckelshaus agreed with the NLRB’s decision. “While lobbyists for the fast-food industry might loudly disagree, their objections don’t change the facts: if you work at McDonald’s, then you work for McDonald’s, and not just the company’s franchisees,” she said. “McDonald’s exerts substantial control over its franchised restaurants; it’s only right that the company should also be held responsible for the rights of the workers at its restaurants.”

McDonald’s plans to contest the unfair labor practice charges against them.

Media Resources: Feminist Newswire 12/4/14; Reuters 12/19/14; Progress Illinois 12/19/14; NLRB Office of Public Affairs 12/19/14

President Obama Calls Only On Women During 2014’s Last Press Conference

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In case you missed it, President Obama on Friday held his last press conference of 2014 – and when it was time for questions, he only called on women.

via Vesko Cholakov
via Vesko Cholakov

The press corps has long been dominated by men, and Helen Thomas became the first female reporter to cover the White House in 1960.

It was not the first time President Obama took questions from only women. Back in September during a visit to Wales, President Obama called on four reporters who were all women. But while that was reportedly just a coincidence, Obama calling on all women on Friday was purposeful.

“The fact is, there are many women from a variety of news organizations who day-in and day-out do the hard work of covering the President of the United States,” Josh Earnest, Press Secretary at the White House, said after the conference. “As the questioner list started to come together, we realized we had a unique opportunity to highlight that fact at the President’s closely watched, end-of-the-year news conference.”

When reporters thought Obama was done taking questions, a male reporter asked Obama about his New Year’s resolutions. He ignored the male reporter and called on April Ryan of American Urban Radio instead. The other seven women, all print reporters, called on were: Carrie Budoff Brown, Politico; Cheryl Bolen, Bloomberg; Julie Pace, Associated Press; Lesley Clark, McClatchy; Roberta Rampton, Reuters; Colleen M. Nelson, Wall Street Journal; and Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post.

Media Resources: The Washington Post 12/19/2014; The Rachel Maddow Show 12/19/2014

Incremental Gains for Women in Congress

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When the 114th Congress is sworn into office on January 3rd, 2015, there will be exactly the same number of women in Senate as the year before, 20, and a record-high number of women in the US House, 84. Overall, the total percentage of women in Congress will increase from 18 percent to 19 percent.

via Shutterstock
via Shutterstock

At this rate, it would take more than another two generations of women to get to parity in Congressional representation. “Clearly this is not acceptable,” said Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority Foundation.

With Mary Landrieu (D-LA) losing to Republican Bill Cassidy in a Senate run-off election this weekend, 20 women will serve in the Senate for the third year in a row. There is a notable difference in party divisions, as only 70 percent of the women in Senate are Democratic, compared to 80 percent in 2014.

Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women in Politics, noted that years when Republicans win many elections often do no yield well for women. “While Republicans won big across the country,” she said, “women remain seriously underrepresented among GOP officeholders.”

The number of women in the US House of Representatives, however, has increased from 74 to 84 – the highest amount yet. Due to a special election, Alma Adams (D-NC) became the 100th woman in the current Congress when she was elected to join the House.

The total number of women governors stays the same at five, and includes Gina Raimondo, the first woman elected governor of Rhode Island. Another record setter, Maura Healy of Massachussetts is the first openly LGBT woman to ever be elected to the position of attorney general.

Media Resources: Center for American Women in Politics Press Release 11/5/14; Feminist Majority Foundation

DC City Council Unanimously Approves Reproductive Health Anti-Discrimination Bill

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Wednesday, the Washington, DC City Council unanimously passed a bill that will prohibit employer interference in the reproductive health decisions of their employees.

via Shutterstock
via Shutterstock

The Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act of 2014 was first introduced by DC Councilmember David Grosso (I-At Large), just ahead of the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of for-profit retail chain Hobby Lobby this summer. The bill amends DC’s 1977 Human Rights Act and “expands discrimination on the basis of sex to include discrimination based upon the reproductive health decisions of an employee, their spouse or their dependent.” The original Human Rights Act includes language that explicitly protects DC residents from discrimination on the basis of pregnancy status, childbirth, or related medical conditions or needs.

Some advocates say the bill could be interpreted as a reversal of the controversial Hobby Lobby decision, but according to a committee report, the bill “is not about insurance coverage, but rather about employee discrimination.”

Outgoing DC Mayor Vincent Gray is expected to sign the bill before year’s end. As in the case of all legislation in DC, the measure will still need to be approved by both chambers of Congress and President Barack Obama before it can be fully enacted.

Media Resources: RH Reality Check 12/18/14; Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee Report on Bill 20-790, 12/15/14; DavidGrosso.org News 6/30/14; Feminist Newswire 7/1/14; National Partnership for Women 12/18/14

 

Woman on Life Support Revives Ireland’s Abortion Debate

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Debate surrounding Ireland’s ban on abortion has come up again following a current case involving a woman who is being kept on life support because she is pregnant.

via Eddie Wong
via Eddie Wong

The woman’s family wants her to be taken off life support, but doctors refuse because Irish law says they must do what they can to protect the 16-week-old fetus. It is highly unlikely for a fetus to survive outside the womb until 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Dr. Adam McAuley, an expert on Irish medical law, believes Dublin High  Court will decide to keep the woman on life support until the fetus develops into a baby that can be delivered. The case will come before court on Tuesday.

“The law isn’t clear, and when there is conflict, the matter will have to come before the court,” McAuley said.

The woman, who was in her 20s, suffered a blood clot that left her brain dead. An Irish constitutional amendment gives mothers and the unborn equal rights under the law – which means that despite the family’s wishes, doctors cannot remove her from life support.

Ireland is a predominantly Catholic country where more than 4,000 women leave to receive abortions annually (most go to England). However, some women do not have this option – including, obviously, those such as the woman in this current case.

Ireland’s first abortion exception law was passed just last year, which made it legal to receive an abortion if the woman’s life was in danger from the pregnancy. The law came about largely after debate surrounding a woman named Savita Halappanavar who died from blood poisoning that came about from the dying fetus she had to carry. She was not allowed a life-saving abortion because the fetus technically still had a heartbeat. Halappanavar’s death led to nationwide protests.

Last summer, a suicidal woman who was raped as a minor became pregnant. She could not go to England for an abortion because she is not an Irish citizen, so she attempted to obtain an abortion under the new law. The woman was denied the abortion despite two psychiatrists determining she was suicidal and saying she should have access to the procedure.  The obstetrician on the panel declared that the fetus was viable and should be delivered. After the panel’s examination, the woman had to wait 17 full weeks to hear back about the outcome. She believes the government purposely delayed her case until the fetus was viable. When her request for an abortion was ultimately rejected, she started a hunger and water strike in protest but stopped when authorities threatened to put her on forced hydration. She then agreed to have a premature caesarean section at 25 weeks. 

A pro-choice group in Ireland called Choice Ireland posted the most recent news with the caption “How many ‘unforeseen’ cases will it take to repeal this abominable law?”

Media Resources: The Irish Independent 12/19/2014; CBS News 12/18/2014; Choice Ireland 12/17/2014; Feminist Newswire 8/18/2014, 7/12/2013

Obama’s Judicial Appointments Most Diverse in History

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Congress came to a close on Tuesday night with the Senate confirmation of 12 new federal judges and 12 executive appointments – including Vivek Murthy as Surgeon General, Sarah Saldaña as head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Tony Blinken as deputy Secretary of State. In their entirety, Obama’s confirmed nominees to the federal bench are 42 percent women, 19 percent African-American, 11 percent Hispanic, and 11 percent openly gay men or lesbian women, making this the most diverse group of judges in history.

via Shutterstock
via Shutterstock

As of these appointments 9 of the 13 federal Circuit courts of appeals are now composed of a majority democratic appointment. Until recently, 10 out of 13 had a majority appointments by Republican presidents.

Tuesday’s confirmations were made possible by the parliamentary blunder of Senator Cruz and the quick response by Senator Reid to move appointments that had been languishing because of Republican opposition.

Sarah Saldaña was appointed as head of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement by a vote of 55-39, and faced nearly unanimous GOP opposition. Saldaña is a US attorney from the Northern District of and Texas, will be the first Latina to hold the position. In a statement President Obama called Saldaña “the right person to lead the dedicated men and women at ICE in securing our borders, keeping American communities safe, and upholding our values.”

With a close vote of 51 to 41, Vivek Murthy was confirmed as the next Surgeon General. Murthy, the 37 year old founder of the group Doctors for America, is the first Surgeon General of Indian-American descent. Murthy’s appointment was held up by Republican Senators for about a year because of his view that gun violence is a public issue. President Obama expressed confidence in Murthy in a recent statement. “Vivek will hit the ground running,” he said, continuing “He’ll bring his lifetime of experience promoting public health to bear on priorities ranging from stopping new diseases to helping our kids grow up healthy and strong.”

Media Resources: Huffington Post 12/17/2014; Dallas Morning News 12/16/2014; CNN Politics 12/16/2014

American Apparel Hired Its First-Ever Woman Chief Executive to Replace Dov Charney

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Six months after retail store American Apparel fired its chief executive and founder Dov Charney, the company has hired retail executive Paula Schneider as a replacement.

via Ed Yourdon
via Ed Yourdon

Schneider, who will become American Apparel’s first female chief executive, will take over the position as of January 5.

Charney had led American Apparel since 1998 and became well-known from American Apparel’s sexist advertising and from several sexual harassment lawsuits and sexual assault accusations against him by former employees. Charney was removed in June but was brought back on a month later as a “strategic consultant.” After an investigation by the company, a statement was released that did not bring up the harassment or assault accusations, but did state that “based on this investigation, the special committee determined that it would not be appropriate for Mr. Charney to be reinstated as CEO or an officer or employee of the Company.”

Earlier this year Charney said he would seek severance pay of between 23 and 25 million dollars. Schneider says she strives to make American Apparel a better company while “staying true to its core values of quality and creativity and preserving its sweatshop-free, Made in USA manufacturing philosophy.”

“This company needs a permanent C.E.O. who can bring stability and strong leadership in this time of transition, and we believe Ms. Schneider fits the bill perfectly,” said David Danziger, a co-chairman of the American Apparel board.

Media Resources: Think Progress 12/17/2014; The New York Times 12/16/2014, 6/19/2014; The Economic Times 6/25/2014; Feminist Newswire 6/19/2014; Reuters 3/25/2011

New Jersey is Inching Closer to Mandatory Paid Sick Leave Statewide

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The Assembly Budget Committee of the New Jersey state legislature approved a paid sick leave bill Monday by a 6-4 vote.

via Shutterstock
via Shutterstock

If the bill is passed, New Jersey workers will earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. In smaller organizations, employees will be able to earn a required minimum of five sick days per year; at companies with less than 10 employees, workers will be able to accrue 40 hours of sick leave that could be carried over to the next year. Workers at larger businesses would be allowed to carry over up to 72 hours or 9 days of sick leave from one year to the next.

The New Jersey Time to Care Coalition praised the committee’s vote. “When you get sick, you shouldn’t need to worry about losing your pay or even your job,” said Phyllis Salowe-Kaye, Executive Director of NJ Citizen Action and spokesperson for NJ Time to Care. “We thank the Assembly Budget Committee for their commitment to advance the right of all workers to be guaranteed a basic standard of earned sick days.”

In November, residents of Trenton and Montclair overwhelmingly voted for local measures that would require private-sector enterprises to offer paid sick leave. In the last year, eight New Jersey municipalities (East Orange, Irvington, Jersey City, Newark, Passaic, Paterson, Montclair, and Trenton) have taken legislative action on paid sick leave. There are only 16 cities with paid sick leave laws in the entire country. If the statewide measure is approved, New Jersey will become only the fourth state to offer paid sick leave.

Last week, US Secretary of Labor Tom Perez met with activists and some New Jersey lawmakers at Rutgers Law School in Newark. “We are the only nation in the civilized world where we don’t have some form of federal paid leave, and we’re working on that in Washington with the leadership of the President,” Perez said. “You are ahead of the curve,” he told them. “It probably doesn’t feel that way as you push the boulder up the hill.”

Media Resources: Feminist Newswire 11/6/14; Times of Trenton 11/8/14; New Jersey Time to Care Coalition 12/15/14; NJ Advance Media, NJ.com 12/12/14

Thousands Marched for Justice in Washington, DC in the Wake of Fatal Police Violence

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On Saturday, December 13, the National Action Network (NAN), NAACP, and other civil rights organizations led the Justice For All March in Washington, DC. Thousands attended the march with the goal of compelling Congress to take legislative action to bring justice to the families of those slain by law enforcement.

via Edward Kimmel
via Edward Kimmel

Just 8 days before the march, founder and leader of the National Action Network  Reverend Al Sharpton put out a call for protesters, allies, and supporters to converge on the nation’s capital. The families of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin, and John Crawford III, all attended the march, joined by other survivors of violence by police and, in the case of Martin, “vigilantes.”

Last week, in a blog for the Huffington Post, Sharpton commended President Barack Obama for establishing a task force to brainstorm and develop concrete recommendations to address the the culture of militarized hyper-policing and use of excessive force that most often adversely impacts communities of color. He also acknowledged President Obama’s commitment to outfit some 50,000 police officers with body cameras – a direct response to the more than 150,000 people who demanded via petition for mandatory body cameras. Sharpton also took aim at Congress.

“Congress must immediately start hearings to deal with laws that will change the jurisdiction threshold for federal cases and policing,” Sharpton wrote. “The executive branch has addressed this most pressing issue, and now it’s time the legislative branch do the same.” Sharpton also called for the funding of body cameras for police officers.

He isn’t the only one calling for more lasting action. Last week, a delegation of the Mothers Against Police Brutality also appeared before Congress to urge them to take decisive action in how police-involved killings are prosecuted.

 The delegation included 10 mothers from all over the country who’ve lost sons to police violence. Mothers Against Police Brutality supports mandatory body cameras, but they want to see Congress push for demands like same-day blood tests for officers involved in police-shootings, random drug testing for all law enforcement civil servants, and accountability of the district attorneys many officers work with.

Media Resources: Huffington Post Blog 12/8/2014; Whitehouse.gov Petitions 8/13/2014; Code- CodePink; Mothers Against Police Brutality

Federal Lawsuit Challenges the Wisconsin Law That’s Putting Pregnant Women in Prison

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A federal civil rights lawsuit is being filed on behalf of a Wisconsin woman who was jailed after allegedly using methamphetamines while 14 weeks pregnant.

via Shutterstock
via Shutterstock

Tamara Loertscher, 30, was jailed after seeking prenatal care at a Mayo Clinic branch in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Loertscher was seeking treatment for a serious thyroid condition and depression, and disclosed to doctors that she’d been using drugs before she knew she was pregnant. Hospital workers then had Loertscher jailed.

“This was my first pregnancy, so I didn’t know what to expect,” Loerstcher told reporters. “I was having lots of cramping and a lot of stress from everything and they [jail officials] wouldn’t allow me to see the doctor.” 

Wisconsin law grants authorities the power to involuntarily detain and confine a pregnant woman for substance use if she “habitually lacks self-control” and her substance use poses a “substantial risk” to the health of an egg, embryo, or fetus. This policy, Wisconsin Act 292, is also referred to as the “cocaine mom law.”

Wisconsin is just one of several states that effectively suspend the civil rights of pregnant women in the name of protecting against fetal harm. Tennessee was the most recent state to enact such a law, doing so earlier in 2014. Wisconsin’s law remains the most broad, and no court has yet ruled on its constitutionality.

Media Resources: RH Reality Check, 12/12/14, 4/29/14; The Guardian, 12/12/14; Wisconsin State Legislature, 6/30/98; Feminist Majority Foundation, 11/5/14.

 

Personhood Groups Plan to Launch County and Municipal Measures to Restrict Abortion Access

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A newly-created anti-abortion group has announced a new tactic meant to end abortion access nationwide.

via Slyvia McFadden
via Slyvia McFadden

In the wake of major defeats for personhood ballot measures in Colorado and North Dakota’s recent elections, anti-abortion extremist Gualberto Garcia Jones, who authored Colorado’s failed Amendment 67,  is now instructing groups to abandon statewide votes for personhood amendments. Instead, Garcia Jones suggested that in 2015 anti-choice groups start “engaging the enemy in municipalities and counties that we know we control.” The Personhood Alliance, which claims to have member organizations in at least 14 different states, is already receiving support for putting anti-choice ballot initiatives at the county and municipal level from other anti-choice groups.

“We know that winning in a head to head statewide battle with Planned Parenthood is almost impossible,” said Molly Smith, President of Cleveland Right to Life, “so we are going to change the rules of engagement a little.”

Voting at the local level, however, has not worked for passing abortion restrictions in the past. Cathy Alderman, Vice President of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, remembers when anti-choice groups failed to ban abortion at 20 weeks in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “Voters upheld the value that women should be making their own health-care decisions in consultation with their doctor and their family and without government interference,” Alderman said.

Media Resources: Right Wing Watch 6/16/2014; Feminist Newswire 11/5/2014; Lifesite 11/7/2014; Personhood.org Press 10/29/2014; RH Reality Check 11/24/2014

Senate Maneuvering Allows for Confirmation of Obama Nominees

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was able to push for confirmation of 24 Obama nominees over the weekend. 12 federal judgeships and 12 administrative appointees, including a new Surgeon General and head of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, could be appointed due to a little-known procedural rule and the actions of Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX).

via Shutterstock
via Shutterstock

The Senate vote on the 2015 Omnibus Appropriations bill this weekend was stalled when Senator Cruz insisted on a vote on the constitutionality of President Obama’s recent executive actions on immigration. Although Senator Cruz’s motion was defeated 22-74, the extended session opened the door for Senator Reid (D-NV) to present 12 nominations for judgeships, and another 12 for executive office- an unintended consequence that has many GOP leaders frustrated.

Amongst nominations for the executive office is Vivek Murthy for Surgeon General, whose view that gun violence in America is a public health problem and needs to be addressed has been controversial.  Sarah Saldaña was also nominated to head Immigration and Customs Enforcement. If appointed, Saldaña would be the first Latina woman to hold the position. Many of the nominations face minimal opposition, and it is believed that most will be confirmed early this week.

Media Resources: US House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations Press Release 12/9/14; Democrats.Senate.gov Schedule for Monday, Dec 15; Justice.gov US Attorneys;

The Spending Bill Lifted the Abortion Ban for Peace Corps Volunteers

Posted on by Feminist Newswire

The Senate Saturday passed a $1.1 trillion spending bill that included expanded abortion coverage for Peace Corps volunteers in case of rape, incest, and when the life of the parent is threatened.

via The Curious Travelers / Shutterstock
via The Curious Travelers / Shutterstock

The Senate’s Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act brings w0rkers’ health care coverage in line with all federal employees, and lifts a 35-year ban on federal funding for abortion in case of rape, incest, or life endangerment for Peace Corps volunteers. Before now, Peace Corps volunteers were the only recipients of government-sponsored insurance that were banned from receiving abortion care under designated emergency circumstances. President Barack Obama has included the same expanded abortion care provisions for Peace Corps volunteers in his budget proposal for the last several years, but those efforts were blocked by Republicans. Earlier this year, for the first time, a standalone bill was introduced in the House on behalf of the more than 60 percent-female organization, but the new rider will go into effect when the President signs the Cromnibus.

“Every woman should have the reproductive coverage she needs, and the brave women of the Peace Corps should no longer be unfairly targeted for inequitable treatment,” Laura Murphy, director of the American Civil Liberties Union legislative office, said.

The new budget package does not, however, make any changes to other longstanding abortion bans. The bill preserves a ban of local and federal funding of abortions for Washington, DC residents on Medicaid. It also preserves a ban on the use of federal money for federal prisoner abortions. According to the Washington Post, the bill also includes new language directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to indicate whether a healthcare plan available on the federal exchange covers abortion services.

Money reserved for family planning programs also remains about the same in the new spending bill.

Media Resources: National Journal 12/11/14; ThinkProgress 12/15/14; Washington Post 12/10/14; ACLU Washington Legislative Office 12/13/14; Feminist Newswire 6/25/14

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