Civil Rights / Public News Service

The American Federation of Teachers says schools must be safe havens, welcoming places of learning and free from racism, discrimination and the threat of deportation. (vectorfusionart/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, February 6, 2025

TX teachers prepare to protect immigrant students

School districts across Texas are grappling with ways to keep migrant children safe and engaged in class now that the Trump administration has made it…

Approximately one in 12 children in Oregon lives with at least one undocumented family member. (Manny DaCunha/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

OR schools, advocates react to possible ICE raids

Oregon's largest school district has affirmed it will continue to enforce Oregon's sanctuary laws by not providing information to Immigration and Cust…

In 1974, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the U.S. Constitution generally permits states to strip people convicted of felonies of their right to vote. (Pexels)

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

MS advocates fight on after Supreme Court upholds voting ban

Mississippi voting rights advocates said their fight is not over, even after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a case challenging the state's …

About 13% of the state's residents were born in another country and 16% of residents are native-born Americans with at least one immigrant parent, according to the American Immigration Council. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Education advocates respond to possible immigration raids in AZ schools

Arizona's largest high school district has stated it will not voluntarily help the Trump administration with its immigration promises by declaring its…

The ADA protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination, just as other civil rights laws safeguard against discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion.<br />(Adobe Stock)

Monday, February 3, 2025

Dismantling DEIA initiatives may harm PA disability rights

For Pennsylvanians with disabilities, there may be unexpected side effects to ending so-called Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility …

The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASHLA) says Black History Month is celebrated in February because both Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln were born during this month. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, February 3, 2025

MLK III on creating a legacy, Black History Month

Bloomington is among the Indiana communities kicking off Black History Month over the weekend. Historian Carter G. Woodson launched what was …

Executive orders signed by President Donald Trump significantly expand the legal authority to deport immigrants living in the U.S. (FArmstrong/Adobe Stock)

Monday, February 3, 2025

Trump policies could mean deportation, discrimination for NM immigrants

Nearly one in four Americans is an immigrant or the child of an immigrant but President Donald Trump has promised to shrink those numbers through arre…

According to a Montana Department of Justice rule, Montanans who receive benefits like SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, TANF and LIEAP qualify to have certain court fees waived. (Adobe Stock)

One year later, Montana advocates celebrate protecting access to justice

Thursday marks the one-year anniversary of a Montana Supreme Court decision ensuring equal access to justice, even for people who cannot afford court …

Numerous studies have shown immigrants are far less likely to commit crimes than people born in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado legislators stand up for immigrants

As President Donald Trump makes good on his promises for mass deportation, some Colorado lawmakers are standing up to protect immigrant families now …

The North Carolina race for Supreme Court justice from November is the only election in the state that's yet to be certified. (DiscoA340/Adobe Stock)

'Unprecedented' attempt to throw out 60,000 NC votes could damage democracy

The saga over votes in a North Carolina Supreme Court election continues, with potentially damaging effects for the state's democracy. While the …

A Dow Chemical plant, one of 200 such facilities, sits on the banks of the Mississippi River in what is called

LA community group wins suit against parish for open meeting violations

A judge has ruled that elected officials in St. James Parish broke Louisiana's open meetings law by conferring secretly with a Chinese company …

Advocates in Washington state are pushing to further streamline the voter registration process. (Darylann Elmi/Adobe Stock)

WA bill would expand automatic voter registration

A bill in Olympia would further expand Washington state's automatic voter registration process. Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, introduced Senate …

The CAvsHate telephone hotline connects people with culturally-competent services in 200 languages. (CA Civil Rights Dept.)

Hate crimes double in CA from 2019-2023; reporting low in rural areas

State data show that hate-crime reports almost doubled between 2019 and 2023 - so the Civil Rights Division is promoting its new CA vs Hate hotline…

According to America's Health Ranking, nearly 28% of Hoosiers age 16 and older volunteered in the last 12 months. (Adobe Stock)

IN DNR seeks volunteers for MLK Jr. Day of Service

Today the nation honors the "drum major for peace" - the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The civil rights leader committed his life to equal …

Threats to U.S. poll workers, ballot counters, county clerks and secretaries of state increased significantly after President Donald Trump said the 2020 election was stolen. (MariaVitkovska/Adobe Stock)

NM voters urged to make a stand for free, fair, safe elections

The post-election period leading up to today's inauguration has been decidedly calmer than the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election. But …

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter. (Jon/Adobe Stock)

Tennesseans honor legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Today marks the nationally recognized birthday of the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It's a day for college students in Tennessee to …

The PoliChic Engagement Fund helps Texas women get involved through civic engagement to impact public policy. (Jesse B/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

TX women encouraged to honor MLK Jr. by exercising their rights

As the second week of the Texas legislative session gets underway, advocates want women and young girls to pay attention to bills that could impact …

The final phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal includes a three- to five-year plan for rebuilding Gaza under international supervision. (Adobe Stock)

NY, U.S. groups cautiously optimistic about Israel-Hamas ceasefire

New York and nationwide groups are cautiously optimistic about the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal. Phase one involves a 42-day ceasefire and gradual …

Ohio State University will host events honoring Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. all week, concluding with the Legacy Awards Reception on Jan. 28. (forestgraphic/Adobe Stock)

Celebrating Dr. King and new beginnings in Ohio

Today, Ohioans come together to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with events across the state celebrating his contributions to …

'Run for Something' is an organization that provides resources, webinars, trainings and a network of people who help candidates around the clock, either for free or at cost. (Adobe Stock)

AZ sees jump in those interested in running for office post-Election Day

More than 12,000 people around the county have said they're interested in running for office since last year's election. And the share coming from …

In the 2023 legislative session, Democrats in Minnesota had control of all levels of government, allowing them to push through most of their policy vision. But Republicans have made gains in the House, forcing party leaders to rethink their strategies. (Adobe Stock)

MN legislative stalemate has potential to worsen voter trust

Minnesota's new legislative session begins tomorrow, but there are still unknowns over how much of it will actually get started. A political expert …

According to the Arkansas Department of Finance, the short-term outlook for the Arkansas economy indicates stable and moderate growth for total personal income from fiscal year 2024 to fiscal year 2025. (diy13/Adobe Stock)

Economists cautiously optimistic about 2025 AR economy

Economists are optimistic about the Arkansas economy in 2025. According to the Arkansas Economic Development Institute, the state has outperformed …

Wyoming's territorial government was the first to recognize women's right to vote. The state has ranked in the bottom 10 in the U.S. for the proportion of women in the state legislature every year since 2009, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Women’s suffrage adds luster to WY Capitol’s historic status

Wyoming's State Capitol building has been a National Historic Landmark since 1987 and last month, the Department of the Interior updated the …

Wisconsin municipal courts issued more than 27,000 arrest warrants and writs of commitment for people who failed to pay fines between Jan. 2023 and Aug. 2024, according to the ACLU of Wisconsin. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Some WI courts jailing people for unpaid tickets

If you have any unpaid traffic or parking tickets, the latest report on Wisconsin's municipal courts said in some areas, you could go to jail if you …

According to the Illinois Department of Corrections, nearly 55% of male inmates are Black, 32% are white, and less than 1% are Asian, Hispanic or Indigenous. (Adobe Stock)

IL justice-involved study shows demographic imbalance

Data show troubling disparities on the number of justice-involved individuals within the Illinois Department of Corrections. Pew Research figures …

A second Trump term leaves many questions about how he will use available legal levers to subpoena reporters and their sources. (Gage Skidmore/ Wikimedia Commons)

Bill in Congress could protect journalists, sources

In the last days of President Joe Biden's term, senators are tackling some of their highest priorities, like confirming judges. But that may also …

In 2013, New Mexico became the 16th U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage. (RobertPeak/Adobe Stock)

NM's LGBTQ+ advocates say 'now is not the time to panic'

Inauguration Day is still five weeks away and gay married couples are already watching for signs conservative lawmakers and the courts may attempt to …

A $275,000 grant awarded to the Montana Legal Services Association will help streamline legal aid to low income residents. The information will be integrated into the organization's LegalServer case management system. (Adobe Stock)

Grant bolsters legal services for low-income Montanans

Low-income Montana residents are getting help accessing legal aid online. In some cases, updates to automated legal forms could help residents …

Each year, immigrants add $54 billion to Colorado's economy. (Adobe Stock)

Economic damage of mass deportation on par with Great Recession

As President-elect Donald Trump doubles down on promises to round up and deport the nation's 11 million undocumented immigrants, the city of Castle …

Almost half of LGBTQ+ youths aged 13-17 faced bullying in the past year and those who did were significantly more likely to attempt suicide compared with those who were not bullied, according to a Trevor Project survey. (Andrii Zastrozhnov/Adobe Stock)

TN awaits decision in case on gender-affirming care for trans youth

A Supreme Court decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti, challenging Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors, is expected by mid-2025. Since 2021…

Transgender activist Monica Helms created a transgender pride flag in 2000 that now hangs in the Smithsonian Institution's collection of LGBTQ historical items and, in 2003, founded the Transgender American Veterans Association. (Flickr)

GA trans activist: Election may bring struggle to save hard-won rights

The issue of transgender rights is back in the news after a recent Supreme Court hearing and Donald Trump's reelection as president returns legal and …

Currently, public sector workers in Wisconsin can only bargain over wages up to the cost of living. (Adobe Stock)

Act 10 ruling could increase stakes of WI Supreme Court election

A Wisconsin Circuit Court's ruling involving public sector bargaining rights has intensified the stakes for the state's Supreme Court election in 2025…

In 2020, Pennsylvania reported more than 32,000 abortions, with providers documenting only 239 cases that involved medical complications. (Longfin Media/Adobe Stock) <br />

PA advocates stand firm on reproductive health access

President-elect Donald Trump's second term has some Pennsylvania health care providers and legal experts voicing concern about potential changes to ab…

Undocumented immigrants make up an estimated 4% of Oregon's workforce. (Diego Cervo/Adobe Stock)<br />

OR sanctuary laws protect migrants, with caveats

As word has spread about President-elect Donald Trump's mass deportation plans, advocates for immigrants in Oregon are working to educate people …

The NAACP, Human Rights Watch, the ACLU and other groups are voicing opposition to the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act. (Adobe Stock)

PA environmental, free speech advocates worry over 'anti-terror' law

A bill introduced in Congress is facing backlash from nonprofit organizations, warning it could stifle free speech. The Stop Terror-Financing and …

Anita Krecic, 65, has been in prison since 1987 for the killing of a Mississippi highway patrolman by her then-boyfriend. Despite her exemplary record, parole boards have repeatedly denied her release, most recently in 2022, with another review set for 2030. (Adobe Stock)

Five Mississippi women serving 175 Years, with 47 parole denials

By Christopher Blackwell and Loretta Pierre for The Appeal.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Mississippi News Connection reporting for The Appea…

The ACLU of Arkansas says immigrant workers are an integral part of the Arkansas economy. (F Armstrong Photo/Adobe Stock)

ACLU: Mass deportations would be setback for AR economy

The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas predicts if President-elect Donald Trump follows through with his campaign promise of mass deportations…

About 90% of LGBTQ+ young people reported that their wellbeing was negatively impacted due to recent politics, according to The Trevor Project.(Adobe Stock)

LGBTQ+ folks in Nevada, nationwide concerned about next Trump presidency

Members of the LGBTQ+ community in Nevada and around the country are concerned about what a second Trump presidency could mean for their safety…

New Mexico immigrant advocacy groups said mass deportations promised by the next Trump administration would destabilize local economies. (LRafael/AdobeStock)

NM human rights groups promise to defend immigrants against deportation

New Mexico immigrant-based and immigrant-serving organizations are developing strategies to defend those workers and their families in the new year…

House Resolution 9495 is not the first bill with language potentially harming nonprofits to be voted on this year. House Resolution 6408 passed the chamber earlier this year with bipartisan support. However, it stalled and hasn't been brought for a vote in the Senate. (Adobe Stock)

House passes bill that targets nonprofits in NY, US

House lawmakers have passed a bill advocates said will be harmful to nonprofits in New York and nationwide. House Resolution 9495 passed with a 219-1…

According to the National Registry of Exonerations, since 1989, more than 100 Michiganders have been acquitted of crimes they did not commit. (Adobe Stock)

MI man, wrongfully incarcerated, now trains police officers

Ten years ago today, 12-year-old Tamir Rice was shot by Cleveland police while holding a toy gun, sparking national protests for police reform…

Senate Bill 1583, a measure banning book bans in Oregon, may resurface in spring. (Jacek Chabraszewski/Adobe Stock)

Post election, educators anticipate classroom censorship

In the wake of Donald Trump's re-election, teachers nationwide are bracing for more censorship battles. Currently, more than 40 laws in 22 states …

On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate confirmed Mustafa Kasubhai to a federal judgeship in Oregon. (Wikilaw contributor/Wikimedia Commons)

Advocacy groups protest as Trump tells Senate to halt judicial appointments

On Tuesday, President-elect Donald Trump called on the U.S. Senate to stop confirming President Joe Biden's nominees to federal judgeships, even as …

Coalition forms to reaffirm 'California values' in 2nd Trump era

This weekend, a new coalition called "We Are California" is holding meetings up and down the state, preparing to resist what it sees as anticipated …

The California Undocumented Coalition for Higher Education took part in an advocacy day in Sacramento in January 2020. (California Campaign for College Opportunity)

CA undocumented student groups worry about incoming Trump administration

As President-elect Donald Trump announces immigration hard-liners as his deputy chief of staff and border czar this week, groups supporting …

Four in ten women under the age of 30 said abortion was the number one most important issue this election cycle, according to the health policy nonprofit group KFF. (Feng Yu / Adobe Stock)

AZ passes abortion measure, advocates still concerned about a Trump presidency

Voters in Arizona overwhelmingly supported and approved Proposition 139 last week, which enshrines abortion rights into the state's constitution…

More than one million Latinos live in Minnesota and surrounding states, and advocacy groups say it shows how this population is having an influence on elections. (Adobe Stock)

MN organizers: Latino voting power is here to stay

The impact Latino voters had in this year's election has caught the public's attention. Minnesota organizers found success in connecting with this …

A bill making its way through the U.S. House of Representatives would create a truth and healing commission to address ongoing harms to Native American families linked to the federal children's boarding-school program. (Adobe Stock)

Biden boarding school apology a first step toward healing

President Joe Biden's recent apology on behalf of the federal government for harms done to generations of Native American children and their families …

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Civil Rights

TX teachers prepare to protect immigrant students

OR schools, advocates react to possible ICE raids

MS advocates fight on after Supreme Court upholds voting ban

Education advocates respond to possible immigration raids in AZ schools

Dismantling DEIA initiatives may harm PA disability rights

MLK III on creating a legacy, Black History Month

Trump policies could mean deportation, discrimination for NM immigrants

One year later, Montana advocates celebrate protecting access to justice

Colorado legislators stand up for immigrants

'Unprecedented' attempt to throw out 60,000 NC votes could damage democracy

LA community group wins suit against parish for open meeting violations

WA bill would expand automatic voter registration

Hate crimes double in CA from 2019-2023; reporting low in rural areas

IN DNR seeks volunteers for MLK Jr. Day of Service

NM voters urged to make a stand for free, fair, safe elections

Tennesseans honor legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

TX women encouraged to honor MLK Jr. by exercising their rights

NY, U.S. groups cautiously optimistic about Israel-Hamas ceasefire

Celebrating Dr. King and new beginnings in Ohio

AZ sees jump in those interested in running for office post-Election Day

MN legislative stalemate has potential to worsen voter trust

Economists cautiously optimistic about 2025 AR economy

Women’s suffrage adds luster to WY Capitol’s historic status

Report: Some WI courts jailing people for unpaid tickets

IL justice-involved study shows demographic imbalance

Bill in Congress could protect journalists, sources

NM's LGBTQ+ advocates say 'now is not the time to panic'

Grant bolsters legal services for low-income Montanans

Economic damage of mass deportation on par with Great Recession

TN awaits decision in case on gender-affirming care for trans youth

GA trans activist: Election may bring struggle to save hard-won rights

Act 10 ruling could increase stakes of WI Supreme Court election

PA advocates stand firm on reproductive health access

OR sanctuary laws protect migrants, with caveats

PA environmental, free speech advocates worry over 'anti-terror' law

Five Mississippi women serving 175 Years, with 47 parole denials

ACLU: Mass deportations would be setback for AR economy

LGBTQ+ folks in Nevada, nationwide concerned about next Trump presidency

NM human rights groups promise to defend immigrants against deportation

House passes bill that targets nonprofits in NY, US

MI man, wrongfully incarcerated, now trains police officers

Post election, educators anticipate classroom censorship

Advocacy groups protest as Trump tells Senate to halt judicial appointments

Coalition forms to reaffirm 'California values' in 2nd Trump era

CA undocumented student groups worry about incoming Trump administration

AZ passes abortion measure, advocates still concerned about a Trump presidency

MN organizers: Latino voting power is here to stay

Biden boarding school apology a first step toward healing