Four gun control measures failed to pass the 60-vote threshold necessary to move forward in the U.S. Senate this week. Each vote was largely along party lines, and further demonstrated the unwillingness of the chamber to challenge the gun lobby.
Justice Sotomayor Writes Scathing Dissent in Support of Fourth Amendment
The Supreme Court ruled in Utah v. Strieff yesterday that an individual who is illegally detained, and then found to have a warrant out for his or her arrest, is subject to a lawful search and seizure.
UN Demands That Ireland Amend Anti-Abortion Legislation
The Council’s ruling is incredibly significant, as Ireland has some of the strictest abortion legislation in the world.
Jo Cox, Feminist Member of British Parliament, Remembered
British Parliament paid tribute today to Jo Cox, a Member of Parliament, who was brutally murdered last week in a small town in her native district of West Yorkshire.
California Repeals Discriminatory Rule Targeting Women of Color
California is set to repeal its so-called Maximum Family Grant Rule (MFG), a welfare reform measure that essentially punishes low-income women, particularly women of color, for having children.
First All Female University Opens In Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s first lady Rula Ghani officially inaugurated Moraa, the first-ever all women’s university in Afghanistan, last month.
West Texas Abortion Providers Are Overwhelmed By Demand Due to Anti-Abortion Laws Shuttering Clinics
The closure of Planned Parenthood clinics in the state—which once served as primary sources of reproductive health care for women there—has left the few clinics remaining in west Texas underfunded, understaffed, and overwhelmed by demand.
“Abortion Drone” Will Fly from Ireland to Northern Ireland
On Tuesday, June 21, a drone will depart from Ireland to Northern Ireland carrying Misoprostol and Mifepristone, which are used in medication abortions. The “Abortion Drone” was made possible by a coalition of pro-choice Irish organizations, including Alliance for Choice, Rosa, Labour Alternative and Women on Waves. Its contents will allow its recipient, who is legally […]
Six-Month Sentence for Brock Turner in Stanford Rape Case Ignites Outrage
National outrage erupted earlier this month after Brock Turner, a convicted rapist, was given a six-month sentence in county jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman on Stanford’s campus in January 2015.
Helen Chavez, a Founding Rock of the UFW, Remembered
The Feminist Majority Foundation celebrates the remarkable life of activist Helen Chavez, widow of the legendary co-founder of the United Farm Workers (UFW) Cesar Chavez.
Ohio and Planned Parenthood Settle Federal Lawsuit
Planned Parenthood reached a settlement with the state of Ohio last week, nearly six months after the healthcare provider filed a federal lawsuit seeking to prevent state Attorney General Mike DeWine from unfairly prosecuting the organization.
Over 180 Members of the House to Speaker Ryan: End the House Select Investigative Panel’s Politically-Motivated “Witch Hunt”
Over 180 members of the House called on Speaker Paul Ryan this week to disband the House Select Investigative Panel, citing “continued abuses which jeopardize the integrity of the House and the safety of Americans.”
Indiana Court Hears Arguments to Free Purvi Patel, Imprisoned for Abortion
More than a year after she was sentenced to 20 years prison for terminating her pregnancy, Purvi Patel finally had the opportunity to have her case heard by the Indiana Court of Appeals on Monday.
House Approves Inadequate Zika Funding
The House of Representatives last night approved only $622 million in funding to help fight the Zika virus—less than one-third of the $1.9 billion the White House requested and only slightly more than half of what the Senate approved earlier this week.
Millions of Women to Benefit from New Overtime Pay Rule
The Obama Administration today announced its final rule extending overtime protections to millions of workers. The rule, which will take effect on December 1, raises the salary threshold for overtime pay from $23,660 to $47,476 per year, making nearly 4.2 million additional workers—more than half of whom are women— eligible to receive overtime protections.
Congresswomen Demand Action on Equal Rights Amendment
Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) took to the House floor yesterday to urge for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which would grant constitutional protection from discrimination based on sex.
Members of the House Select Investigative Panel Call on Speaker Ryan to Disband Its Witch Hunt Against Abortion Providers
Members of the House Select Investigative Panel today sent a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan calling on him to disband the Panel and end its “unjustified witch hunt against researchers and doctors.”
1 in 6 Hospital Beds Are In Catholic Facilities That Deny Critical Healthcare to Women
A new report issued by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and MergerWatch found that one in six hospital beds in the United States are located in a Catholic facility that denies critical reproductive health care services, even when a patient’s life or health is endangered.
Governor Chris Christie Vetoes New Jersey Pay Equity Bill
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie yesterday blocked a bill aimed at closing the gender wage gap in the state, calling the legislation “business unfriendly.”
Two Years Later, Over 200 Girls Kidnapped by Boko Haram Remain Missing
Two years ago in April, the terrorist group Boko Harm kidnapped 276 girls from Chibok Government Secondary School in Nigeria, prompting an international outcry to #BringBackOurGirls.