Last week, the House and Senate passed the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act that makes it mandatory for sports organizations to report the sexual abuse of athletes to law enforcement or social services within 24 hours. The bill is now waiting to be signed into law by the President.
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Department of Labor Hid Data Revealing that Proposed Tip Rule Would Cost Workers Billions
The Department of Labor (DOL) intentionally hid internal analysis revealing that its proposal to allow tip pooling in restaurants and other businesses could cost minimum wage workers billions of dollars.
DeVos Sued for Discriminating Against Student Survivors of Sexual Assault
The National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) together with co-counsel Democracy Forward, National Center for Youth Law, and Equal Rights Advocates, filed suit in the Northern District of California to challenge Education Secretary DeVos’ discriminatory 2017 Title IX policy on sexual misconduct in schools.
Congressional Leaders Request Review of Climate Surveys on Campus Sexual Violence
United States Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Ro Khanna (D-CA), and Susan Davis (D-CA) requested Monday that the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a comprehensive review of past and existing campus climate surveys used to collect data on the incidence of sexual violence on college campuses in order to provide recommendations to Congress for developing a standard, nationwide survey.
Senate to Vote on 20-Week Abortion Ban
On Monday night, the Senate is expected to vote to move forward with a 20-week abortion ban, misleadingly titled the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would ban and criminalize abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy in all 50 states.
Janet Benshoof, Reproductive Justice Leader, Dies at 70
A memorial service was held on Sunday for Janet Benshoof, a renowned human rights lawyer who spent much of her career defending the right to access abortion and contraceptives in the United States and around the world.
2018 Women’s March–Reflecting on Challenges and Victories
This past weekend, thousands of feminist activists once again took the streets of cities and towns across the country for the Women’s Marches to protest a number of the policies and positions of the Trump administration and Republican controlled Congress including the dismantling of Title IX, the rollback of birth control coverage, the failure to protect Dreamers, and more.
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Fairfax County Pushes Virginia to Ratify ERA
On Tuesday, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously for a resolution in support of the Virginia legislature ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
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Government Shutdown Ends, Immigration Unrest Continues
“Promises aren’t going to protect our community, promises aren’t going to grant us a permanent solution” says Antonio Jaregui, a 20-year-old college student and Dreamer who was disappointed by the results of the government shutdown.
Judges Rule Two Congressional District Maps Unconstitutional
On Monday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the state’s Republican drawn congressional districts were unconstitutional and ordered they be redrawn in the next several weeks.
Trump Administration to Protect Health Workers Denying Treatment on Moral Grounds
On Thursday, the Trump administration announced the creation of a new division at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that seeks to defend healthcare workers who choose to discriminate against patients who have had or who require certain medical procedures, such as abortions, due to moral or religious objections.
Commemorating the 45th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
Today marks the 45th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling in which the Supreme Court stated that access to abortion is protected under the right to privacy, legalizing abortion across the United States. The right to privacy is protected by the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution.
2018 Women’s March Locations
ALABAMA — ALASKA — ARIZONA — ARKANSAS — CALIFORNIA — COLORADO — CONNECTICUT — DELAWARE — DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA — FLORIDA — GEORGIA — HAWAII — IDAHO — ILLINOIS — INDIANA — IOWA — KANSAS — KENTUCKY — LOUISIANA — MAINE — MARYLAND — MASSACHUSETTS — MICHIGAN — MINNESOTA — MISSISSIPPI — MONTANA — MISSOURI […]
Afghan Girls Robotics Team Back in the US
On January 5, the Afghan Girls Robotics Team, who became famous after they were denied a visa to enter the U.S. for an international robotics competition in summer 2017, came back to the United States to attend, speak and exhibit their newest robot at the 4th annual Raw Science Film Festival.
Talks of Reparations for South Korean “Comfort Women” End
South Korea announced that it will not be pursuing renegotiations with the Japanese government over reparations for South Koreans victimized by the Imperial Japanese Army sex slave trade during World War II.
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Trump Administration Terminates Protected Status for People from El Salvador
On January 8, the Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Kirstjen M. Nielsen announced that the United States would terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from El Salvador. The United States granted TPS to citizens of El Salvador in January 2001 when a deadly earthquake struck the country.
Iran Sees Protests Against Corruption and Struggling Economy
Anti-government protests that erupted in Iran at the end of December have lead to the arrests of an estimated 3,700 people and the deaths of at least 21.
Civil Rights Icon Recy Taylor Dies at 97
Recy Taylor, a civil rights icon who was one of many black women victimized with impunity in the Jim Crow Era, died in her sleep at a nursing home in Abbeville, Alabama on December 28, 2017, just three days before her 98th birthday.
Time’s Up on Workplace Sexual Harassment at Golden Globe Awards
On Sunday evening, attendees of the 75th Golden Globe Awards honoring achievement in film and television dressed in black and wore Time’s Up pins to participate in a blackout that showed support and solidarity for the movement to combat workplace sexual harassment.
One Vote Splits the Virginia State House Between Democrats and Republicans
On Tuesday, a ballot recount over a contested seat in the Virginia House of Delegates ended in a one-vote victory for Democratic candidate Shelly Simonds, resulting in a 50-50 split of the state house between Republicans and Democrats. Though the results must be certified by a three judge panel on Wednesday, Simonds is expected to represent the 94th district, located in Newport News, Virginia, unseating Republican incumbent David Yancey.