civil rights

  • Man Sentenced for Racially Motivated Attacks on Two Black Women

    A Florida man has been sentenced to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release for committing two federal hate crimes by attacking two Black women with a gun. Frederick Eugene Pierallini III, 27, pleaded guilty to these crimes on July 6, 2023. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil…

  • Supreme Court Refuses Mckesson v. Doe, Restricting Mass Protest Rights in 3 Southern States

    In a decision that has shaken the world of civil liberty advocates, the United States Supreme Court opted not to hear the case of Mckesson v. Doe. In effect, the apex court has upheld a lower court ruling that drastically curtails the right to organize mass protests in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The lower court’s…

  • Alabama Lawmakers Reject Bill to Release Police Bodycam Footage

    A bill aimed at making police-worn body camera footage public record in Alabama was defeated in a Senate committee vote on Wednesday. Sponsored by Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Birmingham, the legislation, SB14, would have mandated the release of bodycam and dashcam video footage within 30 days of a request, making it accessible to families as well.…

  • Grants Pass Homelessness Case Heads to U.S. Supreme Court

    Grants Pass, a picturesque Oregon town, has found itself at the center of a national debate on homelessness as its case heads to the U.S. Supreme Court. The town’s struggle with a growing homeless population has intensified, leading to a fierce fight over park space and the legality of fines or jail time for those…

  • Ben Crump Now Representing Miami Man Charged With Aggravated Assault After He Was ‘Shot And Paralyzed’ By Police

    Civil rights attorney Ben Crump has stepped in to represent Donald Armstrong, a Miami man who was shot multiple times by City of Miami Police officers on March 7th. The incident, captured on video, has sparked outrage and calls for justice from the community. Armstrong was shot near the entrance of a home on Northwest…

  • Federal Agencies Unite with Justice Department to Ensure Civil Rights Compliance in AI

    In a concerted effort to safeguard individual rights amidst the expanding use of artificial intelligence (AI), five additional federal agencies have pledged to uphold principles of fairness and equality alongside the Justice Department. The Justice Department revealed on April 4, 2024, that an extended coalition of cabinet-level federal agencies has committed to preserving fundamental civil…

  • Mississippi To Revamp How It Notifies Next Of Kin About Deaths After 7 Men Were Buried In Unmarked Graves

    In response to recent controversies surrounding the burial of loved ones in unmarked graves without proper notification, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced its intervention to revamp next-of-kin death notifications in Mississippi. The assistance will be provided to the Jackson Police Department and Hinds County Coroner’s Office under Title VI of the Civil Rights…

  • ‘The Kissing Case’: How International Pressure Forced The Release Of 2 Black Boys Accused of Kissing White Girl

    In 1958, the innocence of childhood was shattered for two young African-American boys in Monroe, North Carolina, when they were accused of a harmless act: kissing a white girl. James Hanover Thompson, aged 9, and his friend David Simpson, aged 7, found themselves at the center of what would later be known as “The Kissing…

  • U.S. Supreme Court to Deliberate Government’s Role in Combatting Social Media Disinformation

    The Supreme Court is poised to engage in a pivotal debate over the extent of the White House’s authority in tackling misinformation on social media platforms, with implications that stretch beyond the realms of online discourse to matters of public health and democracy. For professionals like Dr. Eileen Barrett, Chair of the Board of Regents…

  • Landmark Lawsuit Could Potentially Redefine Local Law Enforcement Jurisdiction In Missouri

    Three Black women have filed a federal lawsuit challenging Missouri’s control over the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD), alleging systemic racism and inequality perpetuated by the state’s governance structure. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, argues that the arrangement, dating back to 1861, was initially designed to…