The medical journal The Lancet released a study on Thursday examining the impact of the global gag rule, officially known as the Mexico City Policy, on the rate of abortions in sub-Saharan Africa. Researchers discovered that rather than decrease the amount of abortions as anti-choice advocates advertised, the policy increased abortion rates by approximately forty […]
US Embassies fly Pride Flag Despite Denial from Trump Administration
Monday, Mike Pence came out in support of the Trump administration’s decision to repudiate U.S. embassies’ for flying the pride flag, making nationalist claims that only one flag can fly, after U.S Embassies in Vienna, India, and South Korea all flew the pride in celebration of the LGBTQ community, despite previous denial from Trump Administration, […]
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Trump Transgender Military Ban Takes Effect
President Trump’s highly controversial and discriminatory military policy to ban all transgender individuals from serving in the United States Military will officially take effect today at the Pentagon. In addition to banning transgender individuals from military service, the Pentagon will also prevent using any DoD or DHS resources to fund sex reassignment procedures or surgeries, […]
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Trump Administration Rescinds Anti-discriminatory School Discipline Policies
Today the Trump Administration announced it would rescind parts of the Obama administration’s “Rethink Discipline” school policies, policies that ensured that minority students were not unfairly targeted for harsher punishments or disciplinary practices.
President Obama Permanently Blocks Offshore Drilling in Regions of the Arctic and Atlantic
The ban is set to safeguard 115 million acres of U.S. government owned portions of the Arctic Ocean as well as 3.8 million acres of the Atlantic Ocean.
October 11th Marks International Day of the Girl
Today we celebrate International Day of the Girl, a 100% youth led movement fighting for social justice for the 1.1 billion girls around the world.
President Signs Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights
Today, President Obama signed into law the Sexual Assault Survivors Rights Act, establishing a set of guidelines for the federal government handles forensic evidence gathered after a person reports a sexual assault, otherwise known as a rape kit.
Victory for Water Protectors in North Dakota Pipeline Standoff
On Friday the Obama administration announced that it would temporarily block construction of the Dakota Access pipeline in one specific area, handing a victory to environmental and Native American “water protectors” who just that day had received a federal court ruling denying their petition for an injunction on the project.
President Reallocates Funding in Wake of Zika Crisis
In the wake of Congress’ refusal to pass a Zika funding bill before their five-week August recess, President Obama announced last week the administration’s intent to reallocate $81 million from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help combat the Zika virus.
US Policy on Abortion for Women and Girls Raped in Conflict at Odds with International Law
On the 67th anniversary of the adoption of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, a series of treaties concerning the rights and protections of noncombatants, prisoners, and those injured during armed conflict, the United States continues to overlook one of its most important protections: the right of the “wounded and sick” to non-discriminatory medical care .
Obama Shortens Sentence of 214 Federal Inmates
President Obama shortened the sentences of 214 federal inmates last week, the largest number of commutations granted on a single day in more than a hundred years.
Equal Pay Day Highlights Persistent U.S. Race/Gender Wage Gap
President Obama today issued a proclamation marking Equal Pay Day—the day to which women, on average, have to work to be paid as much as their white, male counterparts were paid by the close of last year.
Over 800,000 Federal Contract Workers Will Receive Paid Sick Days Under Proposed Rule
Acting on an executive order introduced by President Barack Obama last year, the Department of Labor issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking recently, outlining a strategy to secure paid leave for an estimated 828,000 federal contract workers, more than half of whom currently receive no paid sick days at all.
Activists to Senate Republicans: Do Your Job
Nearly 100 civil rights, women’s rights, environmental, labor and social justice organizations bsent a letter last week to 11 Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee urging them to fulfill their constitutional duty to help vet and confirm a new Supreme Court justice following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.
White House Announces New Measures to Further Equal Pay
President Obama, on Friday, announced new steps his Administration is taking to help close the gender-race pay gap.
Obama Administration Announces Plan to Expand Lunch Program to Feed Children in Need
In an effort to address child hunger and food insecurity in the United States, the Obama Administration announced the launch of a pilot program that certifies students eligible for free or reduced-price in-school lunches automatically if their families’ collect Medicaid benefits.
Obama Declares State of Emergency in Flint Water Crisis
President Obama has declared a state of emergency in Flint, Michigan after a water contamination crisis produced a spike in lead poisoning and other health issues, including possibly Legionnaire’s disease, in the city
President Obama Vetoes Bill Defunding Planned Parenthood & Repealing Affordable Care Act
President Obama vetoed a measure today that would defund Planned Parenthood for one year and repeal key provisions in the Affordable Care Act.
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Obama Announces New Executive Actions to Reduce Gun Violence
President Obama announced new executive actions to reduce gun violence today, including expanded mandatory background checks, increased enforcement of gun laws, and increased funding for mental health care.
The Nation Inks Impressive 6-Year Contract; Includes Paid Family Leave
Last week, the NewsGuild of New York media union and The Nation magazine announced a six-year contract that will provide four months paid parental leave to The Nation’s employees, regardless of their gender, and will also give employees a 25 percent pay increase over the life of the contract.
