Over a dozen women have come forward accusing Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment, and multiple women have alleged they were also sexually assaulted by the media mogul. Since the story of Weinstein’s decades long record of sexual harassment was brought to light by the New York Times last week, Weinstein has been fired from the company that bears his name, and four members of his all-male board have resigned.
Female Governor in Afghanistan Removed From Office
Masooma Muradi, the former Governor of Daikundi, Afghanistan, has been removed from office after receiving continued opposition due to her gender. Muradi was the only female Governor in Afghanistan, and her position has now been filled by a man.
Arrests in Egypt After Display of LGBT+ Pride Flag
During a concert in Cairo on September 22, audience members waved an LGBT+ pride flag sparking an immediate response from the Egyptian government.
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Puerto Rico in Crisis More Than Two Weeks After Hurricane
Since Category 4 Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico on September 20, the island has been desperately working to rebuild. Almost 20 days after the initial storm, only 12 percent of the island has access to electricity, and many people are without consistent access to basic necessities including water and medication. The availability of medical services is limited, and the death toll has risen as a result of hospital closures.
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The Growing Movement for Indigenous Peoples Day
Today is a day of remembrance referred to by two different names that are fundamentally paradoxical in nature—the widely recognized national holiday that is Columbus Day and the growing movement to reclaim it as Indigenous Peoples Day.
ACLU Sues FDA Over Mifepristone Restrictions
A Hawaiian doctor, with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, has launched a lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for placing unnecessary restrictions on Mifepristone, also known as Mifeprex, a pill used for medical abortions.
Thousands of Wisconsin Voters Blocked by Voter ID Laws in 2016 Election
A recent study shows that as many as 23,000 eligible voters in Wisconsin were discouraged from casting a ballot in the 2016 presidential election due to the state’s voter ID laws.
March for Black Women Draws Attention to Intersectional Injustices
Last weekend, two marches aiming to bring attention to racial injustices occurred in the nation’s capital–the March for Racial Justice and the March for Black Women. The two marches began at different starting points and then met at Lincoln Park before marching together to the Justice Department and the National Mall.
Feminist Majority Foundation Condemns Department of Education Over New Title IX Guidance
This week the Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF) and other women’s rights advocates commandeered a hearing held by the Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) in order to express grievance over the Department’s rescinding of Title IX guidance documents that served to protect victims of sexual assault on college campuses.
House Passes 20 Week Abortion Ban
On Tuesday the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that criminalizes abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy in all 50 states. Senator Lindsey Graham, with the support of 45 other GOP Senators, has now introduced the bill in the Senate, where it will need 60 votes to pass.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Each year, 10 million people are victims of domestic violence. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men will become victims of physical domestic violence in their lifetime.
Temple University Feminists Protest Board of Trustees Chairman
In September, the Temple University group Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (FMLA) announced their campaign to try to remove the name Patrick O’Connor, lawyer for Bill Cosby, from one of the university plazas as well as oust him from his role as chairman of the Board of Trustees. FMLA is affiliated with the Feminist Majority Foundation’s Feminist Campus program.
Wins for Abortion Access in Indiana and Kentucky
Last week, two laws that made it more difficult to obtain an abortion in the states of Indiana and Kentucky were struck down in a win for abortion access in the United States.
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US Marine Corps Adds First Female Infantry Officer to Ranks
The lieutenant has requested that her name not be released to the public, but her achievement is a milestone for all women in military service. She will be assigned to the 1st Marine Division in California.
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NASA Dedicates New Facility to Katherine Johnson, Heroine Mathematician
During her time as a human computer at NASA, Johnson assisted with getting the first American in space by calculating the trajectory of his trip and was the first woman to receive credit on a research report.
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Lone Shooter Kills Over 50, Injures Over 500
On Sunday night, a gunman on the 32nd floor of Las Vegas’s Mandalay Bay Resort opened fire on a crowd of thousands of people attending the final night of a county music festival. As of Monday afternoon, at least 58 people are dead and over 500 are injured.
Celebrating Afghanistan’s Independence Day
This week the Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington D.C. celebrated the 98th annual Afghanistan Independence Day. This celebration marks the anniversary of Afghanistan’s independence from Great Britain in 1919. Ambassador Hamdullah Mohib, Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells, and United States Lieutenant General John Dolan were present at this event alongside both U.S. and foreign officials. Nobel Prize recipient Malala Yousafzai was also in attendance.
Commemorating International Safe Abortion Day
The key components of International Safe Abortion Day include advocating for the decriminalization of abortion, reducing the negative stigma surrounding abortions, and ensuring equal access to safe abortions for all individuals. According to a statement from the United Nations regarding International Safe Abortion Day, “Denying women access to necessary health care is inherently discriminatory and a violation of their human rights.”
Saudi Arabian Feminist Movement Celebrates Lifting of Driving Ban
In a historic win for the Saudi Arabian feminist movement, women in Saudi Arabia have won the right to drive. In a royal decree issued Tuesday, the Saudi Arabian monarchy announced that the ban preventing women from driving will be lifted. A committee has been assembled to determine how the lifting of the ban will […]
House to Hold Vote on 20 Week Abortion Ban
On Tuesday, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) announced that a vote on the “Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act” would take place next week.