ayanna pressley
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For Years, ‘Qualified Immunity’ Protected Violent Cops. Could a New Court Decision Mark a Shift?
On Tuesday, a federal court went against more than a decade of decisions in denying qualified immunity to a cop who shot a black man 22 times. The unanimous decision by a three-judge panel concerns the case of Wayne Jones, who was shot and killed in West Virginia in 2013 by five cops, who fired…
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Lawmakers and Advocates Grow Increasingly Frustrated With Lack of Comprehensive Racial Data on COVID-19 Cases
Nearly three months after the first confirmed COVID-19 case in the U.S., more than 1.1 million people have been infected with the coronavirus, with at least 92,000 deaths recorded. But despite the clear and pervasive toll the virus has had on Americans and American life, a substantial number of states and territories are still not…
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Ahmaud Arbery's Shooting Death Spurs Calls for Justice, New Hate Crime Laws in Georgia
On Tuesday, video was released showing the graphic shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery. Arbery was unarmed and on a jog through a predominantly white neighborhood when Greg McMichael and Travis McMichael shot him after a brief struggle. The release of the video resulted in a Georgia prosecutor recommending the case be presented before a grand…
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Rep. Ayanna Pressley Addresses Joe Biden Assault Allegations: 'We Still Don't Know What Survivor Justice Looks Like'
Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley penned an open letter to former Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday calling for the presumptive presidential Democratic nominee to give a response that “models the empathy, diligence, and acknowledgment of broken systems that this conversation demands.” Rep. Pressley’s letter, titled “It’s 2020 and We Still Don’t Know What Survivor Justice…
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Thanks to Black Women, There's More Political Interest in Fixing Black Maternal Care Than Ever Before
Racial disparities in maternal care have been an issue for decades—and for decades, many politicians were content with ignoring the issue or made decisions that actively exacerbated inequality. But in recent years, there has been a sea change nationwide as more elected officials at every level of government have committed themselves to addressing black maternal…
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During a Global Health Pandemic, It's More Important Than Ever to Protect Black Mothers
Despite its status as a “developed” nation, about 700 women will die each year from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth in the U.S.—more than any of its peers. Of that number, a disproportionately high number are black women—from 2007 to 2016, black mothers died at a rate of 3.2 times that of white mothers,…
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Diddy Holds Virtual Coronavirus Town Hall With Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Killer Mike, Sen. Kamala Harris and More
As COVID-19 has spread through the country, so too has misinformation. To combat this, politicians and celebrities have been holding virtual town halls to provide accurate information to the public. Now, Diddy is the latest to step up. On Thursday, Diddy hosted a two-hour town hall event titled State of Emergency: The State of Black…
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Reps. Ilhan Omar and Ayanna Pressley Propose Massive Student Debt Relief Plan Ahead of Coronavirus-Spurred Recession
The fight against the coronavirus outbreak is a global endeavor, and as local and national governments around the world scramble to manage the global health crisis, they must also prepare for another devastating reality: a global recession. Making sure aid is equitable and effective is the burden laid upon American lawmakers and public officials—especially in…