Civil Rights
On this day in 2014: Same-sex marriage is legalized in Michigan
U.S. District Judge Bernard Judge Friedman on March 21, 2014, issued a ruling legalizing same-sex marriage in Michigan. In 2004, Michigan voters OK’d a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Since that time, public opinion had turned around in the state with polling showing a majority supported marriage equality. A Michigan couple, April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse, filed […]
6 Republicans vote against naming highway for Aretha Franklin
The state House on Tuesday overwhelmingly voted to name a portion of M-10 in Detroit the Aretha L. Franklin Memorial Highway in honor of the Detroit musical legend. House Bill 4060, sponsored by state Rep. Leslie Love (D-Detroit), passed 101-6. All of the “no” votes were from Republicans Reps.: Steven Johnson (R-Wayland), Shane Hernandez (R-Port Huron), […]
ACLU: Michigan one of states with most anti-mosque incidents
Michigan is one of eight states that has had 11 or more anti-mosque incidents since 2005, according to data collected by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). That’s the highest tier of incidents the group records. Other states in that category are: New Jersey, New York, Florida, Texas, Washington, California and neighboring Ohio. There’s been […]
AG, lawmakers stand against hate after New Zealand mosque shooting
Elected officials and faith leaders spoke out against anti-Muslim hate crimes on Sunday at the state’s largest mosque in Dearborn. Attorney General Dana Nessel spoke at the Islamic Center of America following a New Zealand terror attack, which left 50 Muslim worshipers dead on Friday. Other speakers were: New Attorney General Hate Crime Unit Director Sunita […]
Alex Rossman: Michigan’s budget should address racial inequality
I was going to write this for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Then I was going to write this for Black History Month. But twin life happened — I’ve mentioned I’m the dad of multiples, right? — and now it’s March. While I missed out on those more overt ways to talk about racial equity, […]
Schor seeks to end feud with former fire chief
Lansing Mayor Andy Schor has apologized to former Lansing Fire Department Chief Randy Talifarro following a recent public dispute about hiring practices for firefighters, the Lansing City Pulse reports. “I apologize for the discomfort and turmoil that you expressed that you experienced in the time that you served as fire chief in the city of Lansing […]
Slideshow: ‘We Build the Wall’ town hall and protest
The “We Build the Wall” town hall drew about 500 people at Cobo Center in Detroit Thursday night, as the Advance reported. Former President Donald Trump senior adviser Steve Bannon; Kris Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state; and David Clarke, former Milwaukee County sheriff were headliners. There also was a protest of roughly 50 people […]
Bannon rallies hundreds in Detroit for Trump’s border wall
Former President Donald Trump senior adviser Steve Bannon was serving up plenty of red meat to Republicans on immigration in Detroit Thursday night. Bannon, a popular figure on the so-called alt-right, spoke to a crowd of 500 for the “We Build the Wall” town hall at Cobo Center. He referred to the U.S. Senate vote […]
Peters, Stabenow vote to reject Trump’s border emergency
Updated, 3:50 p.m., with comments from U.S. Sen. Gary Peters. WASHINGTON — The Republican-led U.S. Senate today delivered a stinging rebuke to President Trump by voting to approve a resolution to end the national emergency he declared at the southern U.S. border. Both of Michigan’s Democratic senators, U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow of Lansing and Gary […]
Stacey Abrams to keynote annual Mackinac Policy Conference
Stacey Abrams, a rising star in the national Democratic Party, will be in Michigan this spring. Abrams, who narrowly lost her race for Georgia governor last year and delivered the Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address last month, will be a keynote speaker at the annual Mackinac Policy Conference in […]
Think tank: Trump budget cuts training key to Black workers
President Donald Trump’s proposed fiscal year 2020 budget includes $1.2 billion in cuts to several job training programs will hurt African-Americans and other underserved communities, a national think tank said this week. “A budget reflects national priorities, and unfortunately the Trump administration’s budget does not prioritize the need to ensure the American workforce has the […]
Schor under fire for Lansing Fire Dept.’s lack of diversity
There’s been a very public war of words between Lansing Mayor Andy Schor and former Lansing Fire Department Chief Randy Talifarro. Now Dale Copedge, president of the Lansing NAACP, says he wants to hear more from both men regarding the lack of diversity within the Lansing Fire Department. There’s also been a high-profile discrimination lawsuit […]