Salem-News.com Civil Rights articles Page 4

Civil Rights Coalition Victorious in Suit Against Alabama`s Anti-Immigrant Law

Agreement Permanently Blocks Most of the Law’s Worst Provisions, Strictly Limits Racial Profiling Provision.

(MONTGOMERY, AL) - The coalition of civil rights groups that challenged Alabama’s anti-immigrant law, HB 56, announced today an agreement that permanently blocks key provisions of the law and significantly limits racial profiling under sections 12 and 18, the “show me your papers” provisions.

A similar agreement is being entered in a case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice and also in one brought by church leaders. Both agreements are pending final approval by the court.

Minority Rights and the Killing of Trayvon Martin

‘Trayvon Martin could have been me thirty five years ago.’ - US President Barack Obama

(LOS ANGELES) - Race alone is not enough to explain the outcome of the Martin Zimmerman trial. We need also to understand the plight of minority groups qua groups if we are to prevent future tragic killings.

If the notion of human rights is to be all meaningful, it is imperative both that we help African-Americans achieve parity with other groups, and also that we safeguard the existence and identity of minority groups.

Idle No More 2013 - Living In Reality - John Trudell

Mix of 4 videos from youtube: Idle No More 2013 - Living In Reality - John Trudell - assembled by Red Sky in the Mourning.

(BOSTON) - Listen to the powerful message of John Trudell while viewing a beautiful collage of 3 amazing videos representing "Idle No More".

One of the featured videos is off of the NEWSIC Album of Salem-News.com titled, "New Musical Tribute: IDLE NO MORE" feat. "Ace" (Agron Belica) of Aldin Entertainment Music Group and organized by Gail Baker.

A Brief Comment on the Supreme Court`s DOMA Decision

The DOMA decision is a step in the right direction, but leaves same-sex couples in 43 states without a right to marry and ineligible for federal benefits.

(SAN FRANCISCO) - The Supreme Court in United States v. Windsor ruled that Section 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the law barring the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages legalized by the states, is unconstitutional.

Adding California after the Hollingsworth v. Perry decision, twelve states now allow same-sex marriages and these couples are now eligible for federal benefits.

Women Haters: Are All Republicans Like This?

Pregnant, barefoot and in the kitchen. Really?

(PORTLAND, OR) - As a man, I regard the three leaders of Presidential primaries with abhorrence. It reminds me of a perverse “Three Stooges”.

I really don’t know if two of the wives wanted “x” number of children, I don’t think they had any say-so.

American Motorcycle Association: Protect your Privacy from Event Data Recorders

Urge your representative to support federal legislation!

(WASHINGTON DC) - On June 18, U.S. Reps. Mike Capuano (D-Mass.) and Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) introduced H.R. 2414, the Black Box Privacy Protection Act.

The bill will protect motorcyclists’ rights by requiring manufacturers to prominently disclose to consumers if an event data recorder (commonly known as a black box) is installed on their motorcycle, the data collection capabilities of such a device, and how such data may be used.

Court Cripples Voting Rights Act

Greenlining Institute: Congress Must Act to Protect Democracy

(BERKELEY, CA) - The Supreme Court effectively gutted a key provision of the Voting Rights Act today.

This effectively throws out the map that determines which states or localities must get federal permission before they change their voting laws.

Court Leaves Affirmative Action Unresolved--But its Days are Numbered

Court sends clear signal that the era of explicitly race-based affirmative action is coming to an end.

(WASHINGTON DC) - The Supreme Court has put off a decision on the legal merits of race-based affirmative action programs.

In Fisher v. University of Texas, Abigail Fisher, a white student who was denied admission to the University of Texas in 2008, charged that the college policy of considering race violated her civil and constitutional rights.

Prisons Full of Innocents

Do police feeding a false confession to their victim mean well? When they falsely report on that procedure to a court do they mean well? When they use tape recorders but shut them off each time they feed the prisoner new facts, do they mean well? When they hide evidence?

(WASHINGTON DC) - There are probably more innocent men and women in prison in the United States now than there were people in prison here total -- innocent and guilty -- 30 years ago, or than there are total people in prison (proportionately or as an absolute number) in most nations on earth.

I don't mean that people are locked up for actions that shouldn't be considered crimes, although they are.

Aging Behind Bars (Infographic)

Between 1981 and 2010, the number of state and federal prisoners age 55 and over increased from 8,853 to 124,900.

(WASHINGTON DC) - The elderly population in prison is rising at staggering rate.

The consequence of mass incarceration and strict sentencing policies at the federal and state level, older prisoners require more expensive care at a time when their danger to society at large is waning. Most are likely to die in prison, as programs designed to release such prisoners on compassionate grounds are rarely invoked...