A lack of racial diversity is not the only factor that can feed police brutality against people of color; a lack of gender diversity can also create police forces in which officers aren’t treating the communities they serve with the proper procedure and respect.
ACLU Sues After St. Louis County Police Deny Open Records Request in Ferguson
After a full week of standoffs between law enforcement and demonstrators in Ferguson, Missouri, the American Civil Liberties Union has filed two lawsuits against the local police department.
Federal Judge Fails to Block North Carolina Voter Suppression Law
A federal judge on Friday refused to grant civil rights groups and the US Department of Justice a preliminary injunction against a North Carolina voter suppression measure, signed into law by Republican Governor Pat McCrory last year.
US-Africa Leaders Summit Closes With Funding Commitments and Focus on Women
After three days of unprecedented meetings between the US and leaders from nearly 50 African countries, the US Africa Leaders Summit ended Wednesday. In addition to public and private commitments of up to $33 billion for trade and investment, the United States called on leaders of the African continent to make a considerable investment in advancing the status of […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court Upholds Union Limits and Voter ID Laws
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Thursday to uphold laws that significantly decreased collective bargaining rights for workers and require photo identification at the polls.
Federal Judge Finds California Death Penalty Unconstitutional
A federal judge ruled the California death penalty unconstitutional, leading legal experts to forecast similar calls for overhaul in other states.
Church of England Votes to Allow Women Bishops
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Justin Welby, supported the vote, saying he thought the public would find the exclusion of women “almost incomprehensible.”
Pope Begs Forgiveness of Sexual Abuse Survivors, But Survivors Want Action
“These meetings are public relations coups for the Vatican and distracting placebos for others. They provide temporary but false hope.”
North Carolina College Students Join Challenge to Voter ID Laws
North Carolina college students are joining the NAACP, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the US Department of Justice in a challenge to restrictive state voting laws that they argue violate the 26th Amendment.
Stop The Madness: On Treating Women Prisoners With Dignity
Women in prison are still people – and they shouldn’t have to endure shackling during childbirth and forced sterilization just because they committed a crime.
Activist Groups Allege Abuse of Hundreds of Child Immigrants at US Border
Immigration activist groups have filed a complaint against the US Customs and Border Protection agents.
Deadly Shooting at UCSB Motivated by Misogyny
The confirmed suspect claimed it was his “day of retribution” for a lifetime of rejection by women.
Advocates Push NYPD for More Reform Following Recent Condom Seizure Policy Revision
The NYPD will stop its practice of confiscating condoms from suspected sex workers to be used as evidence of prostitution.
Voter ID Law Struck Down in Wisconsin
A federal judge struck down Wisconsin’s new voter identification law last week, ruling that the law violated the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution as well as Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
Carolyn Maloney Leads Charge for National Women’s History Museum
Maloney has been working to establish the museum for nearly 20 years, first introducing a bill in 1997.
Supreme Court Upholds Michigan Affirmative Action Ban
The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a Michigan state constitutional ban on affirmative action for women and minorities in public education, employment, and contracting.
10-Year Old Girl Banned from Boys Basketball Team Will Now Play
Last week, the New Mexico Select Youth Sport Club told Coach Frey that Jaelyn could not play with her team in the upcoming Southwest Salsa Slam basketball tournament – because she’s a girl.
Senate Votes to Reauthorize Child Care Bill
The Senate voted 96-2 last week to pass the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 (CCDBG), a federal grant program that provides child care assistance to families and funding for child care initiatives.
Marissa Alexander Now Faces Up To 60 Years in Prison
Alexander’s initial sentence reflected three 20-year sentences served concurrently, but Florida state prosecutor Angela Corey will now seek to sentence Alexander to consecutive sentences totaling 60 years in prison.
Massachusetts Governor Issues Emergency Regulations Banning Shackling of Pregnant Inmates
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed emergency regulations last week banning the shackling of incarcerated pregnant women.