Jena Six case comes to an end; shone light on racism in criminal justice system
In September 2007 more than 40,000 demonstrators descended on the small town of Jena, La. to protest unequal justice for the Jena Six, a case in which charges were brought against six black teens following a series of racially charged incidents sparked by the hanging of nooses in a public schoolyard. Facing South followed the case closely as it thrust a small central Louisiana town into the national spotlight and drew the eyes of the country to the lines of racial inequality still present in the modern-day South.
UFT, Green Dot sign pioneering contract for NYC charter school
The nation’s preeminent charter school organization, Green Dot Public Schools, and its largest teacher union local, the United Federation of Teachers, signed an innovative and pioneering collective bargaining agreement on June 23 for Green Dot’s New York City charter school. The contract was approved by the Board of Trustees of the Green Dot school on Monday, June 22, and was ratified by the UFT Chapter the following day.
Supreme Court rules against affirmative action
The Supreme Court today ruled that white firefighters in New Haven, Conn. were unfairly denied promotions because of their race, overturning a decision by high court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. In a blow to affirmative action the court, in a 5-4 ruling, said New Haven was wrong to scrap a promotion exam because no African Americans and only two Hispanic firefighters were likely to be made lieutenants or captains based on the results.
Arizonas equal opportunity programs under threat
Arizona's equal opportunity programs are facing a renewed assault this week after the state legislature voted to place an anti-equal opportunity initiative onto the 2010 Arizona General Election ballot.
Stonewall riots: The beginning of the LGBT movement
This Sunday, June 28, will mark the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, the event largely regarded as a catalyst for the LGBT movement for civil rights in the United States. At the time, there were not many places where people could be openly gay. New York had laws prohibiting homosexuality in public, and private businesses and gay establishments were regularly raided and shut down.
Take me out to the ball game
CHICAGO – In our fourth annual outing, 50 friends and allies here raised $500 for our favorite publication, People’s Weekly World/Nuestro Mundo, by way of rooting for the city’s Southside team, the White Sox, at its June 8 game. The Sox went up against the Detroit Tigers who are currently in first place in the Central Division.
Civil rights groups urge 'huge groundswell' to end predatory lending
Black, Latino, and Native American Indian leaders at an online briefing on the “racial wealth gap” said it will take a tidal wave of public pressure to win passage of legislation outlawing predatory lending and other discriminatory practices in the face of opposition from the banking lobby.
Howard Dean endorses Josh Skaller for N.Y. City Council
BROOKLYN, N.Y.— Howard Dean, founder of Democracy for America and Democratic National Committee Chair Emeritus, gave an enthusiastic endorsement to City Council candidate Josh Skaller, saying that “we need people who are going to be on the streets all the time listening to ordinary people.”
Magic defeat Lakers in NBA game 3
The Orlando Magic was still in the game on Tuesday after beating the Los Angeles Lakers at Amway Arena in the NBA finals game three. The score was 108-104 cutting the deficit in their best-of-seven series to 2-1.
City of Baltimore charges Wells Fargo with racist lending practices
Charges of premeditated racist discrimination by the nation's top banks were given additional boost by the city of Baltimore which filed affidavits recently in a suit against Well Fargo for steering minorities to purchase sub-prime loans. Similar suits have been filed in several states including Texas, Tennessee and California and by the the NAACP alleging racial bias in predatory lending. The case was initially presented last January. The complaint runs some 825 pages.
