In the midst of California’s COVID-19 lockdown, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are continuing to make arrests, despite calls from immigration advocates for a suspension of enforcement activities. To limit the spread of COVID-19, Los Angeles has shut down a range of public services and business, including libraries, movie theaters, clubs, gyms, and concert […]
New Zealand Decriminalizes Abortion
On Wednesday, March 18, New Zealand lawmakers voted on and passed a bill that treats abortion as health care and not as a crime, with a vote of 68 to 51. In Nick Perry’s Associated Press release published by ABC news, Margaret Sparrow, 84-year-old doctor and advocate for reproductive rights, said that, “it’s been a […]
Need for Universal Paid Sick and Family Medical Leave More Urgent Than Ever
The global pandemic caused by COVID-19, also commonly referred to as coronavirus, has revealed a number of systemic flaws in the United States that must be addressed, including paid leave. While the nature of this medical crisis draws attention to the lack of paid sick leave, paid family leave is a benefit that should also […]
Immigration Courts to Stay Open During Coronavirus Pandemic
The Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review declared “operations as usual” for proceedings involving non-detained immigrants on Sunday night. The decision comes after Seattle’s immigration court was shut down last week after a report of second-hand exposure to coronavirus; it will remain shut until April 10. The order states that master calendar dates, […]
Richest 10% Using 20 Times More Energy than Bottom 10% of the Global Population
An international study led by researchers from the University of Leeds studied global energy inequality of income classes from 86 countries. The study concluded that the richest ten percent of people consume nearly 20 times more energy than the bottom ten percent. The researchers combined World Bank and European Union data to analyze how diverse […]
Biden Pledges to Pick a Woman for VP; Will Appoint a Black Woman to SCOTUS
During Sunday night’s CNN-Univision debate, former Vice President Joe Biden said that he would choose a woman to be his vice-presidential running mate. According to Biden in a piece by CNN, “If I’m elected president, my Cabinet, my administration will look like the country, and I commit that I will, in fact, appoint a, pick a woman to be vice […]
Women Face Food Insecurity in the Wake of Coronavirus Outbreak
Abby J. Liebman and Liza Lieberman are the President and CEO and Director of Public Policy at MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger. Learn more about their important and vital work here. Many of us are stunned by the coronavirus outbreak, unsure exactly what to do or how to proceed. Should we stockpile food? Work […]
Idaho Senate Passes Bill Banning Transgender Women and Girls from School Sports
The Idaho State Senate passed a bill on March 16th which would ban transgender girls and women from playing on high school and college sports teams. The “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” would force students to compete on teams that correlate with their sex assigned at birth rather than their gender identity. If there is […]
U.N. Report Shows Increase in Sexual Misconduct Claims
A United Nations report released on Friday showed that accusations of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) rose significantly in 2019. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that, despite progress and policies in place to prevent sexual misconduct, “significant challenges” persist. In 2019, there were 80 allegations of SEA in U.N. peacekeeping and political missions, an uptick from […]
French Priest Confesses to Abusing Dozens of Children
Earlier today Bernard Preynat, a 75-year-old ex-priest, was convicted and sentenced to prison for five years for sexual assault. Preynat admitted to abusing dozens of boys for nearly 20 years in Lyon, France. The case highlights the profound corruption within the Church’s establishments with the guilt of a top cardinal deepening the world’s understanding of […]
As Coronavirus Spreads, So Does Inequality Among Infected Persons
The coronavirus is deepening economic inequality throughout society, especially among those infected with the virus. Research suggests that those of lower incomes are more at risk to catch the disease, die from it, and even if they manage to remain healthy they are more likely to suffer income loss. Additionally, inequality itself may be creating […]
Women Resist, but Continue to Suffer Under Boko Haram
Over 500 women have been used by Boko Haram as suicide bombers during the decade-long war that has occurred in Nigeria and has spread to three neighboring countries. According to terrorism experts, this number is higher than any other conflict in history. Boko Haram is one of the most lethal terrorist organizations on the planet, […]
‘Progressive Vanguard’ of LGBT Voters Showed Up for Democratic Primaries
Even though LGBT people make up about 4.5 percent of the entire US population, they made up more than 9 percent of voters who turned out for the Democratic primary elections. The “disproportionately high number” of LGBT voters who turned out were both younger and more liberal than non-LGBT voters in the primaries, according to […]
Transgender Minors in NY Now Allowed to Change Their Gender Marker
Transgender individuals born in New York can now change their gender marker on their birth certificate before their 18th birthday thanks to a lawsuit by a 14-year-old trans boy, known only as M.H.W. “Effective immediately, transgender individuals born in New York will have the right to make this deeply personal decision without the government’s […]
Patients Seek Out-of-State Care as Missouri’s Only Abortion Clinic Threatened with Closure
Missouri’s strict abortion laws have begun pushing patients out of the state to seek reproductive healthcare, reports Planned Parenthood. The state’s only remaining abortion clinic has seen a severe drop in patients as it fights a legal battle against the state government to stay open. The clinic, Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the […]
Menstrual Equity Movement Spotlights Period Inequality
The movement known as menstrual or period equity aims to eliminate taxes on menstrual products as well as provide supplies to people who need the products the most, such as in homeless shelters, schools, and prisons. Proponents of menstrual equity point to challenges facing people who are unable to access menstrual supplies, some of which […]
Colorado Replaces Columbus Day with A Paid Holiday That Celebrates a Woman
Colorado passed a bill this week to replace Columbus Day with Cabrini Day in an effort to better represent the diversity of its community. It will now be the first paid state holiday in the country to celebrate a woman. The holiday now honors Frances Xaxier Cabrini or Mother Cabrini, an Italian American Roman Catholic […]
Guatamalan Refugee Maria Celeste Ochoa Yoc de Ramirez Dies in ICE Custody
22-year-old Maria Celeste Ochoa Yoc de Ramirez died in ICE Custody in Fort Worth, Texas, on Sunday. This marks the eighth death in ICE Custody since October. The cause of death was “autoimmune hepatitis, complicated by septic shock and acute liver failure,” according to an ICE Press release. Ochoa Yoc de Ramírez had been hospitalized […]
U.S. Women’s Soccer Team Continues to Dominate; Fight with U.S. Soccer Federation Ongoing
The United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) gained yet another win in a soccer game against Spain in the SheBelieves Cup yesterday, shutting them down with a narrow 1-0 win. A win against the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF), however, is less certain. There is no dispute that the USWNT continues its domination on the […]
Harvey Weinstein Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison
Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison on Wednesday morning. The sentencing comes after a jury found him guilty of rape and a criminal sexual act on February 24. He was acquitted of two counts of predatory sexual assault and first-degree rape. Justice James A. Burke of the New York State Supreme Court […]