“The Trump Administration is once again doing everything in its power to carry out a mean-spirited attack on transgender individuals who deserve and need civil rights protections,” read a statement by the Feminist Majority Foundation. “This overt attack on trans lives is at odds with scientific fact, multiple federal court rulings, and the lived experiences of millions of Americans.”
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Protests against Kavanaugh Continue in the Wake of Sexual Assault Allegations
Capitol Police arrested fifty-six people yesterday on Capitol Hill during a protest against Supreme Court Nominee and alleged abuser, Brett Kavanaugh.
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Scott Pruitt Resigns from EPA
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt resigned yesterday following a long battle with ethics violations allegations. Pruitt, a self-proclaimed “leading advocate against the EPA’s activist agenda,” is an avid climate change denier, fossil fuel supporter and collaborator with oil and gas companies.
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Notre Dame Students Sue Over Denial of Birth Control Coverage
Irish 4 Reproductive Health, a student group at the University of Notre Dame, together with several individuals insured by the university, sued the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Treasury, and Labor as well as Notre Dame itself for entering into an agreement to deny students, university employees, and their dependents insurance coverage of birth control, in violation of U.S. Constitution and federal law.
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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.
University of Notre Dame Health Insurance Will No Longer Cover Birth Control
Early this week, the University of Notre Dame announced that beginning in January 2018 the university insurance plan will no longer include birth control coverage for students except in cases where it is being used “for a medical condition and not as pregnancy prevention.”
Trump Administration Blocking Unaccompanied Minors from Accessing Abortion
On Friday morning, a federal appeals court in Washington DC ordered the Trump administration to find a sponsor for a pregnant 17-year-old undocumented immigrant in federal custody so that she can access an abortion without government facilitation. For weeks, the Trump administration has been desperately trying to obstruct her judicially approved abortion.
US Pulls Out of United Nations Organization on Culture and Education (UNESCO)
On Thursday, the Trump administration announced its decision that the U.S. will withdraw from UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization at the end of 2018.
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Trump Administration Slows Progress on DREAM Act with Immigration Demands
The Trump Administration has issued a number of demands to be included in any new immigration bill, jeopardizing the future of 800,000 undocumented youths who are relying on passage of the DREAM Act.
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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.
Trump Administration Shuts Down Initiative to Combat Gender-Race Wage Gap
The Trump administration has announced that they will shut down a 2016 Obama-era initiative that empowered the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to collect pay data sorted by gender, race, and ethnicity from businesses with 100 or more employees.
Trump Pardons Notorious Arizona Sheriff Despite Widespread Outrage
Last week, President Trump issued an executive pardon for former Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio, a notorious Arizona official who abused his position to unconstitutionally racially target and detain individuals he suspected of being in the country without proper documentation.
Trump Reinstates Ban on Recruitment of Transgender Troops
President Trump issued a memorandum last week reinstating a ban on transgender individuals serving openly in the United States military and forbidding the Department of Defense from providing medical treatment related to healthcare for transgender service members.
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Trump Dissolves Climate Advisory Panel Ahead of Report on Global Warming
On Sunday, the Trump Administration decided to dissolve the Advisory Committee for the Sustained National Climate Assessment. The Committee’s charter came up for renewal on Sunday, but the committee’s chair was informed that the Administration planned to let the charter expire with no intention for renewal.
President Announces Continuation of Mission in Afghanistan
On Monday evening, President Trump announced to the country that the war in Afghanistan would move forward and that he would increase troop levels, but failed to include details over strategy or how success would be measured in a conflict that has now stretched on for over 16 years.
President Trump Disappoints the Country, Comparing Neo-Nazis to Those Who Oppose Them
While the majority of Americans were deeply disturbed by the riot in Charlottesville, Virginia, many considered President Trump’s response to be equally as troubling after he made shameful comments that were widely seen as siding with the white supremacists against the counter protesters, and exacerbating the already deep racial tension in America.
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Government Scientists Fear Trump Administration Will Cover Up Climate Change Report
On Tuesday, the New York Times received a draft of a not-yet-public report on climate change written by scientists from thirteen different federal agencies. The report, which is currently awaiting approval by the Trump administration, paints a bleak picture of the effects of climate change and the role that humans have played in its escalation.
Trump Plans to Reinstate Ban on Transgender Troops
President Trump announced via Twitter on Wednesday morning that he plans to reinstate a ban on transgender individuals serving military “in any capacity” in the United States military. There are currently 1,320 to 6,630 transgender people serving in the military.
Trump’s Temporary Muslim Travel Ban Goes Into Effect
Travelers from Libya, Syria, Iran, Somalia, Yemen, and Sudan will be banned for 90 days if unable to provide a “bona fide relationship” connection to the United States. The Supreme Court ruled to allow the ban until the Court can hear the case in October and make a final ruling.
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Civil Rights Coalition Demands Trump Administration Protect Civil Rights
Deeply troubled by the drastic cuts within Trump’s proposed budget, the coalition called upon the administration to, “reverse course, before more individuals and communities are harmed,” with a five point list of actions ensuring the protection of civil rights: enforce the law, preserve existing policies, nominate and appoint qualified individuals, prioritize data collection, and condemn bigotry and violence.
