Social Justice
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Oakland Breonna Taylor Sculpture Smashed in Act of ‘Racist Aggression’ Two Weeks After Its Installation
Most people in America celebrate the holidays with family, good food and gift exchanges, but at least one miserable human being decided ‘tis the season for racism and vandalism when they chose the day after Christmas to smash to pieces a sculpture of Breonna Taylor in downtown Oakland, Calif. The Mercury News reports that the…
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Body Bags Placed Outside Alabama Courthouse to Protest Confederate Monument, Flag
An Alabama courthouse has been the site of months of protests regarding the Confederate monument and flag that are displayed outside. The protesters have intensified their efforts by placing prop body bags outside the courthouse. According to CNN, the bags were placed outside the Marshall County Courthouse in Albertville by 24-year-old organizer Unique Morgan Dunston…
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10 Black Lives Matter Chapters Pen Open Letter Criticizing BLM Global Network for Lack of Transparency in Decision Making [Updated]
Black Lives Matter has become such a mainstream rallying cry and concept that it’s easy to forget it’s also an organization—and one that has grown from a grassroots movement to a global network aimed at the betterment of the Black collective. Since the BLM explosion over the summer, the organization has been making some serious…
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Black Firefighters Say Lack of Promotions and Rampant Use of Racial Slurs Embody Culture of Kansas City Fire Department
One of the positives, for lack of a better word, of the renewed focus on systemic racism in America is seeing Black people across the country speaking out about the years of racist treatment they’ve tolerated in their respective fields. A group of Black firefighters in Kansas City, Mo., have spoken out about the years…
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Louisville Mayor Declares Racism a Public Health Crisis
Since Breonna Taylor’s death, Louisville has become one of the focal points in the nation’s ongoing reckoning with its internalized racism, and as a result, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer has declared racism a public health crisis. WLKY reports that Fischer signed the executive order on Tuesday, which comes following months of consistent protests in the…
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Crystal Mason, Imprisoned for 'Voting Illegally,' Appeals Texas High Court to Overturn Conviction
A Texas woman imprisoned for casting a provisional ballot in the 2016 presidential election is asking Texas’ highest criminal court to overturn her conviction, in a case that could have major ramifications on the future of voting rights. Crystal Mason was on a federal supervised release in November 2016 when she cast her provisional ballot,…
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LA County Moves to Overhaul Its Juvenile Detention System to Prioritize 'Care First' Over Punishment
It’s easily arguable that American society isn’t very forgiving to people who have committed crimes. For Black people and people of color especially, it often seems like rehabilitation is a concept the criminal justice system accepts in theory—not so much in practice. It’s easily arguable that America is a nation that prioritizes punishment, not rehabilitation,…
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Pope Francis Shouts Out NBA Players for Their Work in Addressing Racial Injustice: 'You're Champions'
When the NBA made its triumphant return in July after COVID-19 tried its best to steal our joy, it looked like nothing we’d ever seen before. Not only were there virtual fans in the stands, but players were adorned in “VOTE” t-shirts, “Black Lives Matter” was etched onto the court and coaches and players alike…
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In Cities Nationwide, Large Margins of Voters Approve of Increased Police Oversight Measures
While there has been plenty of hand-wringing by elected officials about efforts to defund and reform the police, voters have voiced their desire for change, as ballot measures to increase police oversight passed by large margins in cities across the nation. CBS News reports that cities like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Portland all voted by large…
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‘You Age Like Trash When You're Racist’: Black Activist Vs. Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners. It Wasn’t a Contest
So… We really need to talk about this Black woman who somehow was not charged in multiple homicides after she bodied an entire Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners during a Tuesday meeting. From Newsweek: The board’s monthly meeting ended abruptly after a stream of activists, clergy and community groups demanded the board take a…
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