President Donald Trump says courts are “highly politicized” and judges treat him “so unfairly.” It’s true that no previous president has been the subject of so many lawsuits in the first 18 months of a term, but no previous president…
Trump admin denies hunger strike at immigrant detention center
More than 300 detainees at a Newark, N.J., immigration detention are continuing a hunger strike launched Memorial Day weekend to protest insufficient and spoiled food, lack of sanitation and bond denials, Human Rights Watch reported June 3. Federal officials, meanwhile,…
SPLC asks court to dismiss Trump’s ‘farcical’ charges against it
Fraud charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center are part of a “farcical” and “retributive” White House campaign to silence political opposition, the civil rights group said in a motion to dismiss filed May 26. SPLC, which monitors and reports…
Abbott signs Texas Ten Commandments bill, setting up court fight
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed legislation mandating Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms beginning Sept. 1 despite the threat of litigation from civil liberties groups. Abbott’s office said the governor signed the measure June 21 along with more…
Supreme Court ruling on transgender care called partisan and flawed
The U.S. Supreme Court abandoned science, fairness and common sense in its June 18 decision upholding a state’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth, civil rights and legal experts said. The 6-3 ruling in U.S. v. Skrmetti found Tennessee’s…
Arkansas parents say, ‘Thou shall not’ to Ten Commandments law
A group of Arkansas parents has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block a new state law requiring Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms. Seven families with students in public schools filed the litigation June 11 in the U.S….
How I’m preparing for No Kings Day
In the long-ago time when cell phones were becoming more ubiquitous, we were encouraged to put the letters ICE with the names of our contacts who should be called In Case of Emergency. Everyone knew if someone was in need…
Get ready for lawsuit, groups warn Abbott over Ten Commandments bill
Texans will sue once Gov. Greg Abbott signs a bill requiring Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms, three national civil liberties groups said May 29. The announcement came a day after state senators voted to approve an amended version…
Trump’s immigration plays are testing the waters, ACLU attorney warns
President Donald Trump’s immigration policies are as much about redefining American identity as about kicking immigrants out of the country, said David Donatti, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas. Rounding up, detaining and deporting…
Supreme Court blocks Trump’s use of Enemy Aliens Act
For the time being, the Trump administration has been blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court from using a centuries-old law to deport a group of Venezuelans accused of being gang members. “The government is directed not to remove any member…
Oklahoma Supreme Court blocks Bible curriculum for now
The Oklahoma Supreme Court has temporarily blocked state school officials from purchasing Bibles and Scripture-based instructional materials for use in public school classrooms. The March 10 order bars Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters and the Oklahoma State Department…
Before inauguration day, social justice organizations have been busy
The days leading up to Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration were busy ones for many of the nation’s social justice organizations. Civil rights, immigration, education and other groups were busy hosting webinars, issuing press releases and blasting out emails warning…