Civil Rights

Criminalizing mistakes

Aside btodd Civil Rights

No comprehensive data exist on charges or punishments in voting-related cases, whether they’re related to attempting to register or vote when someone isn’t allowed to, voting twice or voting under a false name. But a number of high-profile cases lately have involved harsh punishment of women of color, particularly Black women like Mason. They come as some Republicans, led by former President Donald Trump, attempt to spread unfounded fears of widespread voter fraud and scapegoat people of color. Voting rights advocates and experts worry that this focus on voter fraud prosecutions could disproportionately affect marginalized communities.  

“This is all part of the cycle of voter suppression,” said Gilda Daniels, law professor and author of “Uncounted: The Crisis of Voter Suppression in America.” “We had high turnout in 2020, and instead of passing laws that increase or even celebrate turnout, there’s this onslaught of legislative activity that questions outcomes and creates new laws that criminalize voting.” 

This is what democracy looks like

Aside btodd Civil Rights

North Carolina now has more than 56,000 newly eligible voters. The state has allowed people with prior felony convictions to become registered voters and cast their ballots. Read about the case that made it happen: https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2022/10/north-carolina-expanded-voter-eligibility-includes-north-carolinians-with-prior-felony-convictions-midterm-elections

Civil rights, democracy groups call on social media companies to combat election disinformation | News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM

Aside GDaniels Civil Rights

Voter deception and misinformation are real. It is important to rely on trusted sources for election-related information.

The Good Brigade/Getty Images (NEW YORK) — Eleven civil rights and democracy groups have sent a new letter calling for social media CEOs to combat and curb the rampant problem of election disinformation ahead of the upcoming

Source: Civil rights, democracy groups call on social media companies to combat election disinformation | News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM

Civil Rights Lawyer Takes Lead in High Stakes Voting Rights Case

Aside GDaniels Civil Rights, Supreme Court

“[Deuel] Ross will join what remains a small group of Black attorneys to have argued before the Court. The Supreme Court bar is largely white and male. And arguments are dominated by veteran attorneys who have repeatedly argued before the justices.Last term, veterans outnumbered first timers, 80-45. Women appeared in just 24% of arguments and attorneys of color even fewer. And other measures of diversity—LGBTQ attorneys, those with disabilities, or military veterans—barely counted.

“It’s important, certainly in civil rights cases, but really in all cases, that people of color and women and other minority groups have the opportunity to represent their clients and in some ways their country in the Supreme Court,” said Ross.”

Civil Rights Lawyer Takes Lead in High Stakes Voting Rights Case

SCOTUS Term Begins Today

Aside GDaniels Civil Rights

The 2022-2023 Supreme Court term started today.   After the recent Dobbs decision, overturning Roe v. Wade,  many Americans fear the fate of the Constitution and how the Supreme Court will interpret it. With pending cases in the Supreme Court that touch on voting rights, Merrill v. Milligan, and free speech, 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, many citizens fear what the majority conservative bench might hold in their opinions.   To stay up to date on all upcoming cases in the Supreme Court check out https://www.scotusblog.com/ 

The strain of censorship on public libraries – 1A

Aside GDaniels Civil Rights
The strain of censorship on public libraries

I remember the first time I saw a book about and written by an African American. I was in high school, working in the school library, and saw a copy of “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” in a back room. I asked if I could check it out and was told that I could have it. They didn’t want the book in the library. As a professor, author, attorney, and African American woman, it’s important to stay vigilant.   #bannedbooks efforts are connected to elections and voting rights. We must pay attention to the erosion of rights and freedoms and use our #PeoplePower to educate, organize and elect representatives who will advocate for civil rights and civil liberties. #Vote #Uncounted

Martin Luther King Jr. was no fan of the filibuster – The Washington Post

Aside GDaniels Civil Rights, Democracy, elections, Voting Rights

Congress must pass voting rights legislation. #JohnLewisVotingRightsAct

“I think the tragedy is that we have a Congress with a Senate that has a minority of misguided senators who will use the filibuster to keep the majority of people from even voting. They won’t let the majority senators vote. And certainly they wouldn’t want the majority of people to vote, because they know they do not represent the majority of the American people. In fact, they represent, in their own states, a very small minority.”

Source: Martin Luther King Jr. was no fan of the filibuster – The Washington Post

JFK’s civil rights leadership still lights a path for our fractured country

Aside GDaniels Civil Rights

Interesting article on JFK’s influence and position on civil rights issues.  Here’s a quote from the article, “I think we might be a very different country if we had not had so many assassinations,” James Baldwin told an interviewer in 1970. He said, “you know black people had a very different feeling toward government when JFK and Bobby were alive than we’ve had since.” He noted a distinctive quality the brothers shared: “Both had minds that could be reached.”

Source: JFK’s civil rights leadership still lights a path for our fractured country

Desmond Meade, felons’ rights activist, wins restoration of his own civil rights – Florida Phoenix

Aside GDaniels Civil Rights

Congratulations @desmondmeade  @FLRightsRestore It was a long time coming!

Desmond Meade, a main force behind Florida’s drive to restore civil rights to thousands of former felons, now has had his own rights restored. The announcement came Saturday during a Twitter broadcast during which family members presented Meade with a certificate from the Office of Executive Clemency announcing restoration of his civil rights, except to […]

Source: Desmond Meade, felons’ rights activist, wins restoration of his own civil rights – Florida Phoenix