Civil Rights
Seven states to watch in the 2022 push to restrict voting rights
WASHINGTON — Republican state lawmakers across the country are ramping up their drive to enact voting and election-related laws in time for crucial 2022 midterm elections. As federal legislation that would limit state-level voting restrictions appears stymied in Washington, Republicans in the states are moving forward with new proposals and revisiting old ones that Democrats and […]
U of M celebrates athlete Willis Ward, who was benched for his race in the 1930s
Willis Ward, one of the University of Michigan’s greatest athletes, wasn’t dejected when racism and injury prevented him from showcasing his Great Depression-era talent. He was perhaps best known for being benched during a 1934 football game against Georgia Tech because the opposing coach refused to play a game with an African American on the […]
On this day in 1886: Black abolitionist shares Underground Railroad strategy
On Jan. 17, 1886, Black abolitionist William Lambert revealed that he was part of a secret order called, “African American Mysteries: Order of the Men of Oppression.” He made the declaration in a Detroit Tribune newspaper article. Lambert and others used codes, passwords and secret handshakes to help slaves gain freedom along the Underground Railroad, […]
Breaking barriers: Michigan’s only Historically Black College set to reopen this spring
Even before the Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design debuts in Detroit on May 2, it is shattering records. The school will become the country’s first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to ever reopen — and education leaders said the institution is poised to make Detroit an epicenter of design and champion Black […]
Senate filibuster on voting rights criticized by advocates for the poor
WASHINGTON — Progressive lawmakers Friday joined a virtual news conference with organizers from the Poor People’s Campaign and said they are not giving up on the push to change Senate rules to pass voting rights legislation. The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival held the virtual meeting to kick off its plans for a […]
Sinema won’t back changes in the Senate filibuster, in setback for voting rights
WASHINGTON — Arizona Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema on Thursday appeared to end a drive by Democrats to change the Senate’s filibuster rules and pass major voting rights legislation. Sinema said during a Senate floor speech that she believed any changes to the filibuster would continue to create political division, despite her concerns over a wave of […]
Study: Black, Latino drivers more likely to be searched and arrested after traffic stops
An independent study commissioned by the Michigan State Police (MSP) released on Wednesday found racial and ethnic disparities in traffic stops conducted by its troopers in 2020. Black and Latino drivers were significantly more likely than white motorists to be searched or arrested after traffic stops, according to the study. Conversely, Asian drivers were significantly […]
Congressional Black Caucus calls for Senate action on voting rights
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is expected to meet with Senate Democrats on Thursday to push for the swift passage of two voting rights bills, and members of the Congressional Black Caucus are applying pressure for action as well. During a press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday, caucus Chair Joyce Beatty said that members […]
Rep. Damoose: ‘Everybody in this room is a little sick’ at Chatfield allegations
State House Speaker Jason Wentworth (R-Clare), who succeeded former House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R-Levering), didn’t talk on Wednesday about the sexual assault accusations against his predecessor. But other GOP House members, including the legislator who took over Chatfield’s seat, are speaking out. “I know nothing more than anybody else does about this. I’m just disgusted […]
State education board passes measure countering GOP’s ‘critical race theory’ bills
The Michigan State Board of Education passed a resolution Tuesday to counter the anti-critical race theory (CRT) bills introduced in the Legislature last year, but it didn’t happen without lengthy debate among board members and hours of public comment. Tuesday’s meeting stretched nearly 10 hours due to hundreds of public comments. There was an organized […]
At MLK alma mater, Biden pitches Senate rule change to safeguard voting rights
President Joe Biden called for an end to the Senate filibuster during a visit to Atlanta’s Morehouse College campus, arguing Senate Democrats can push past GOP opposition now blocking major voting rights legislation. The visit by Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to Atlanta was the latest sign of Georgia’ central role as a battleground […]
Schumer insists ‘failure is not an option’ as voting rights fight intensifies
WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that the Senate will act as soon as Wednesday to attempt to again pass voting rights legislation. “Failure is not an option for the democracy of America,” the New York Democrat said at a Tuesday press conference with other Senate Democrats. “We’re running out of time.” Schumer […]