Racial Justice Blog Posts

Achieving the Ideals Embodied in the CRC

suzanne_ito — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:58:00 -0500

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most comprehensive treaty on children’s rights. The convention has been ratified by nearly every country in the world, except for the United States. The convention would fill current gaps in U.S. laws, and provide all children in America with the same robust protections that children in 193 countries are already entitled to.

Heather Ellis Case is One in a Long Line of Missouri's racial injustices

suzanne_ito — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:34:00 -0500

(Originally posted on The Grio.)

Teach Your Children Well

suzanne_ito — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:11:00 -0500

This coming Friday marks the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most comprehensive treaty on children's rights. The convention has been ratified by nearly every country in the world, except for the United States. The convention would fill current gaps in U.S. laws, and provide all children in America with the same robust protections that children in 193 countries are already entitled to.

Fighting for Voting Rights for All Americans

suzanne_ito — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:39:00 -0500

Today marks the second day of a two-day United Nations forum on "minorities and effective political participation." Chaired by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), the forum has attracted legislators, academics and members of the nongovernmental organization community from around the world to Geneva to address the continuing problems faced by minority communities engaging in the political process.

Florida Failing Its Schoolchildren, High Dropout Rates Violate State Constitution

suzanne_ito — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:30:00 -0500

Last week, the ACLU filed a class-action lawsuit against Florida state officials for violating the state constitution, which guarantees a free "uniform, efficient, safe, secure and high quality" public education to its citizens.

"Give Us Our Books, Don't Treat Us Like Crooks"

suzanne_ito — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:15:00 -0500

So went the call for change on the steps of New York City Hall. On October 22, folks from the New York Civil Liberties Union and I participated in a rally at City Hall to raise public awareness about and garner support for the Student Safety Act.

Race and Death Penalty Links Run Deep and Wide

suzanne_ito — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:12:00 -0400

(Also posted on Daily Kos.)

Loving v. Virginia Still Relevant 40 Years Later

suzanne_ito — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:51:00 -0400

More than 40 years after the U.S. Supreme Court declared laws barring interracial marriage unconstitutional, it was upsetting to learn that a Louisiana justice of the peace has denied a marriage license to an interracial couple. On one hand, the public's reaction to this terrible act shows we've come a long way since the Supreme Court ruled that preserving the racial integrity of its citizens does not justify Virginia's law banning people of different races from marrying.

Profile-Me-Not

suzanne_ito — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:53:00 -0400

In a letter to the Obama administration made public today, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) expressed concerns over a lack of progress to end racial discrimination in the United States. In particular, the letter urged the Obama administration and Congress to do more to end racial profiling, like passing the End Racial Profiling Act and reconsidering the 287(g) program.

Texas Statute Paves Way for Highway Robbery

Chloe Cockburn — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:24:00 -0400

Last Friday, the ACLU and the ACLU of Texas submitted a brief to the Texas Attorney General's office arguing that a District Attorney in East Texas should be barred from using money unfairly taken from motorists under Texas's asset forfeiture law to defend herself from a lawsuit brought by motorists who claim that their property was taken illegally.