Other Issues Race

Teen Jailed for Skipping Online Class Released by Michigan Court of Appeals

Oakland County teenager, known as “Grace,” has been released from jail after public outcry surrounding her imprisonment. Grace was incarcerated for not completing her homework after courses moved online due to the pandemic. The Michigan Court of Appeals voted to release the 15-year-old by overturning a previous ruling that cited missing homework as a probation […]

Other Issues Race

Illinois Plans Overhaul of Juvenile Justice System to “Reduce the Harm of Incarceration”

On Friday, Governor JB Pritzker announced a four-year plan to overhaul the Illinois juvenile justice system by transferring incarcerated children out of large prison-like facilities and investing more in restorative justice practices. The plan would repurpose the state’s five large juvenile facilities and move the children detained there to small residential centers based in their […]

Health Race

Louisville Moves Toward Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis

Government officials in Louisville are working to declare racism a public health crisis. The city has been the site of continued demonstrations protesting the murder of Breonna Taylor by police officers, and a growing number COVID-19 outbreaks – which will disproportionately impact Black people. The Mayor of Louisville, Greg Fischer, along with three Metro Council […]

Health Race

PSA Targets Increase in Asian-American Harassment Linked to Fears of COVID-19

A new public service announcement (PSA), released by the Advertising Council (Ad Council) and created by Emmy-award winning writer Alan Yang, aims to combat the increase in harassment against Asian-Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last three months, the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council, along with Chinese for Affirmative Action, have collected reports […]

Activism Race

New Study Finds That Black Women Are Neglected by Social Justice Movements

Social justice movements owe everything to Black women, who have been the primary movement-builders, theorists, and front-line organizers fighting for justice and equity for decades. But the unique experiences of Black women are still disregarded and misunderstood by social justice movements, according to a new study published by the American Psychological Association. The study’s findings […]

Courts Race

Supreme Court Protects Native American Reservation in Oklahoma

In a win for tribal rights, the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision Thursday that a large part of Eastern Oklahoma is considered tribal land, meaning crimes committed by Native Americans can only be prosecuted by federal authorities. The court’s decision returned 19 million acres of tribal land, including much of Tulsa, the state’s […]

Politics Race

The BREATHE Act Calls for Sweeping Change to Criminal Justice System

The Movement for Black Lives has proposed a bill that calls for sweeping changes to the nation’s criminal justice system. Introduced on Tuesday, the BREATHE Act calls to divert federal resources from systemically racist institutions such as policing and incarceration. The Movement for Black Lives is a coalition of over 150 organizations fighting for racial […]

Activism Race

Indigenous People Protest Trump’s Visit to Sioux Sacred Lands

On July 4, 21 people were arrested during a protest against President Trump’s visit to the Indigenous Sioux tribe’s sacred land, Mount Rushmore.  Protestors, who were primarily Indigenous, placed “three large vans in the roadway to create a blockade to prevent access from Keystone to Mount Rushmore National Memorial” three hours before President Trump gave […]

On the Hill Race

House To Vote on D.C. Statehood Bill Friday

The U.S. House is expected to pass Washington D.C. statehood Friday, marking the first time either chamber of Congress will approve such legislation. The measure is unlikely to be taken up by the GOP-controlled Senate or the Trump administration, but the legislation represents a newfound momentum for the D.C. statehood movement among Democrats. The last […]

Race

Protesters Remove Racist Monuments Across the United States

Protests over the epidemic of police killings of Black Americans have fueled a national movement to remove statues and monuments that symbolize white supremacy, anti-Black racism, colonialism, and oppression in the United States. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Sunday that the statue of President Theodore Roosevelt in front of the American Museum […]

On the Hill Race

Reparations Bill Proposed in Congress

Democrats in the House of Representatives have introduced a reparations bill. The Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act (H.R. 40) would create a dedicated federal committee tasked with studying the consequences of slavery and creating comprehensive recommendations for reparations. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, reparations are actions that “make amends, offering […]

Other Issues Race

Quaker Oats to Retire 130-Year-Old Aunt Jemima Brand Name and Image

Following nearly a month of protests against police brutality and renewed discussions about the United States’ centuries-long history of discrimination towards Black Americans, Quaker Oats announced on Wednesday that it would retire the name and image associated with its Aunt Jemima syrup and pancake mix. Quaker Oats released a statement calling attention to the racial […]

Activism Race

#ShareTheMicNow Campaign Amplifies Black Women’s Voices on Social Media

On Tuesday, the #ShareTheMicNow campaign garnered national attention as it spread across social media platforms. The social media campaign was organized by Black women including Bozoma Saint John, Luvvie Ajayi Jones, Glennon Doyle, and Stacey Bendet in light of recent protests against police brutality that disproportionately targets Black Americans. According to the organizers, the aim […]

Health Race

Kentucky Governor Pledges Universal Health Care Coverage for Black Residents

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D) announced plans to provide healthcare coverage to 100 percent of Black and African American Kentuckians in an effort to address racial inequalities in health care on Monday morning. The governor made the announcement during his daily COVID-19 press briefing. Beshear began the briefing by acknowledging the racial disparities in Kentucky’s […]