Civil Rights
Lucido yanked from key Senate post after sexual harassment probe kicked off by Donahue’s story
A months-long Senate Business Office investigation into sexist comments made by state Sen. Peter Lucido (R-Shelby Twp.) concluded Thursday, resulting in a decision from Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) to remove Lucido from his position as chair of the influential Senate Advice and Consent Committee. Lucido will also be required to participate in additional […]
Susan J. Demas: It’s never our time: Why we won’t have a female president next year
The 2020 Democratic presidential race, which, at one point, was brimming with promise with a high water mark of six women contenders, looks to soon be dwindled to one. All signs point to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) exiting the race as early as Thursday, leaving just U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii). (I’ll leave myself […]
Liberal Supreme Court justices challenge abortion restrictions in high-stakes case
WASHINGTON — The liberal wing of the U.S. Supreme Court appeared highly skeptical of a Louisiana law that restricts abortion access as the justices heard oral arguments Wednesday in a high-stakes case that could open the door for additional abortion limitations around the country. But the court’s conservative majority — which is likely to determine […]
Nessel fights Trump proposals for women, LGBTQs
Women and members of the LGBTQ community have become the targets of two federal proposals aiming to roll back anti-discriminatory protections, according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. She has joined 22 other attorneys general in comment letters opposing the proposals. The proposals were a result of President Trump’s executive order that went into effect […]
Cummings honored with 1st U.S. Capitol room named for Black lawmaker
WASHINGTON — The House Committee on Oversight and Reform’s hearing room in the Rayburn Office Building has been renamed the Elijah E. Cummings Room in honor of the late Baltimore congressman. Cummings’ family, friends, former colleagues and staff packed the hearing room Thursday for a dedication ceremony. It is the first time that a room […]
New civil rights chief to be chosen next week
After more than six months without a permanent executive director, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) will have its final candidate for the position chosen by next week. The Michigan Civil Rights Commission has been conducting a national search for a permanent department director since October. The commissioners fired former MDCR director Augustin Arbulu […]
Major abortion case heads to U.S. Supreme Court this week
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Wednesday in a high-profile abortion case that’s rooted in Louisiana but could have major implications in states around the country. The case, June Medical Services LLC v. Russo, centers on a Louisiana law that requires any physicians who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a […]
Michigan lawmakers call out xenophobic reactions to coronavirus
In the wake of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) reaching national public health emergency status, two Democratic Michigan lawmakers are condemning heightened hostility and racist sentiments toward people of Asian descent as a reaction to the illness. The coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China, and has so far affected at least 89,000 people and killed more than […]
Did you vote early for a candidate who dropped out? You can vote again.
Michigan voters have been casting ballots for the primary election since Jan. 25. Since then, seven candidates (six Democrats and one Republican) who were on the ballot have dropped out — and several did previously. But don’t worry if you voted for a candidate who has taken themselves out of the fight. Because Michigan allows […]
Trump attempts to woo Black voters in Detroit. Will it work this time?
As Black History Month drew to near close on Thursday, a group of about a dozen Black supporters joined President Donald Trump in the Cabinet Room of the White House. In African-American church tradition, the men and women lay hands on him. They prayed for him. They vowed to reelect him. They chanted, “Four more […]
Susan J. Demas: What Pete Buttigieg’s historic candidacy meant for LGBTQ kids
I feel like a jerk. Like a lot of people, I got caught up in the Democratic primary and whose plans I thought would be best for America at this critical time in history, given what Donald Trump has wrought. On one hand, there’s nothing wrong with that and it’s a fine way to choose […]
DNC chair on Iowa caucus debacle: ‘We’re going to talk about reforms’
Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez on Friday said that his organization will continue to discuss ways to minimize problems during the presidential nominating process. The Advance asked him if caucuses should be done away with after myriad problems in Iowa. “We’re going to be talking about it,” Perez said after his appearance before about […]