Antiracism, Cultural Competency & Civil Rights

"Lawmakers and experts called for shifting public rhetoric surrounding Covid-19 and foreign policy and passing hate crime legislation to address discrimination and violence against Asian Americans in a House panel Thursday."

"Readers are moved by an Op-Ed piece he wrote days before his death urging people to 'tand up for what you truly believe.'''

"The House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to remove all Confederate statues from public display in the U.S. Capitol along with replacing the bust of former Chief Justice of the United States Roger Taney author of the 1857 Dred Scott decision that declared that people of African descent were not U.S. citizens."

"The Tucson City Council voted Tuesday to make it illegal to enforce dress code or grooming policies that discriminate against a person’s natural hairstyle."

"A bill that would allow people to sue government officials including police if they violate their rights is going through some major changes. The bill better known as the 'Civil Rights Act' would get rid of qualified immunity and allow people to file their cases in state court instead of federal court."

"The Crown Act a bill that makes hair-based discrimination illegal is now officially law in a dozen states. Nevada is reportedly the latest state to pass the bill. The legislation was fueled by the CROWN (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Day) Coalition."

"Four states have now passed legislation that would limit how teachers can discuss racism sexism and other controversial issues. It's Republican lawmakers latest effort to rein in the approach to subjects they claim are divisive and inappropriate."

"A New York man previously convicted of murdering his mother has been arrested and charged with assaulting a 65-year-old Asian woman in a hate crime an attack captured on a video that went viral amid a rise in anti-Asian incidents in the United States."

"Standard legal ethics courses long considered dry and theoretical by many students have experienced a renaissance over the past two years due to the pandemic and an increased focus on social justice."

"The family of the late Henrietta Lacks who unwittingly spurred a research bonanza when her cancer cells were taken without her knowledge in 1951 has hired a prominent civil rights lawyer to seek compensation from pharmaceutical companies."

"A new alliance will connect victims of anti-Asian hate with pro bono legal services and work to prevent further acts of violence. The effort shows the importance of clear goals and strong networking in addressing social problems."

"President Joe Biden signed a bill establishing Juneteenth the date marking the end of slavery in the United States as a federal holiday."

"President Joe Biden on Monday issued a proclamation to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre when hundreds of Black Americans were killed by a White mob that attacked a prosperous Black neighborhood and burned dozens of city blocks to the ground."

"The House fell short of passing legislation on Monday that would prohibit discrimination against people with hair styles associated with a particular race or national origin."

"Attorney General Merrick Garland on Tuesday was grilled by lawmakers on national security voting rights and the border during his first appearance on Capitol Hill since being sworn in as the nation's top law enforcement officer."

"Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed two companion bills into law on Monday that will protect against discrimination for natural hair hairstyles or cultural or religious headdress in schools and workplaces."

"Arguing that a new law is intended to 'suppress the viewpoints of Black-led organizations and their allies' a coalition of groups Tuesday challenged the constitutionality of changes championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to crack down on violent protests."

"Many admit the recent confirmation of California's new Attorney General Rob Bonta proves there is a place for Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) representation across all levels of government."

"A recent American Bar Association study found that the legal profession in America has remained overwhelmingly white and male over the last decade and that racial diversity among lawyers has actually regressed in some respects"

"An unusual coalition is banding together in a petition to release an 84-year-old former Black Panther convicted for his role in the killing of a police officer."

"President Joe Biden and two of his top cabinet members on Wednesday promised U.S. economic and criminal justice reforms that would benefit Black communities at a conference organized by longtime activist Al Sharpton."

"On social media and in other communications they've been speaking out since the former president began calling covid-19 the China virus."

"The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) decried the Trump administration's decision to appoint Darren Beattie to a commission tasked with preserving Holocaust-related sites after it originally fired him in 2018 for appearing at a conference with white nationalists."

"A new survey released by the ABA on Thursday found stark divisions based on age and race when it comes to believing that there are racial biases built into the rules procedures and practices of the justice system."

"The city of Minneapolis and its police department are willfully subverting our state's Government Data Practices Act by withholding public data about disciplinary action taken against police for serious misconduct according to a new lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Minnesota in state court Thursday."

"Justices of the United States Supreme Court have heard and ruled on many cases that have dealt with race”questions such as who has the right to use the courts where can black and white people live what public schools can a person attend and how can education be equal for everyone? For the courts rulings from earlier cases set a precedent for current and future rulings. Sometimes the Court even states when an earlier Court's ruling was just flat out wrong or misguided. The five cases below were decided by the U.S. Supreme Court and dealt with how the Court interpreted race and who has rights under the law."

"Survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre described on Wednesday how the violence tore their lives and community apart 100 years ago and they urged a U.S. House subcommittee to help secure justice and financial compensation."

"Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez D-N.Y. took to the House floor Thursday morning to admonish the insults hurled at her by Rep. Ted Yoho R-Fla. earlier this week."

Court records in an arson case show that Google gave away data on people who searched for a specific address.

At the request of the local prosecutor, a judge on Monday dismissed the charges and convictions against the Groveland Four: Ernest Thomas, Samuel Shepherd, Charles Greenlee and Walter Irvin.