Civil Rights & Social Justice
The Legislature’s failure to pass a minimum wage hike, while eliminating General Assistance, was a gut punch to Philadelphia | Opinion
Eliminating the General Assistance program is simply the wrong decision. It is one of the most vital human services programs we have in our state today, while also amounting to a relatively small portion of the state budget.
Gov. Wolf vetoes bill that tied voting machine funding to end of straight-ticket ballots
“Pennsylvania must secure its elections and provide real reform that makes it easier to vote,” Wolf said in a statement Friday.
Why a Pa. House resolution recognizing the Stonewall riots didn’t happen on the 50th anniversary
Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta is the first LGBTQ person of color to be elected to Pennsylvania’s General Assembly. It’s part of the reason the Philadelphia Democrat wanted the state House to recognize the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Inn riots, a key moment in the movement for gay rights. “My election is part of the reward […]
Oscar Ramirez and his daughter Valeria: How much power does that powerful image have? | Opinion
By Nicole Smith Dahmen and Paul Slovic When the Associated Press published Julia Le Duc’s photograph of a drowned Salvadoran man, Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez, and his 23-month old daughter Valeria, it sparked outrage on social media. According to Le Duc, Ramírez had attempted to cross the Rio Grande after realizing he couldn’t present himself […]
Nineteen Pa. counties are actively collaborating with ICE to deport immigrants in local custody, new report finds
Pennsylvania's county governments are "systematically cooperating" with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to deport undocumented immigrants who end up in local police custody.
ACLU lawsuit alleges State Police acted as immigration enforcement during traffic stops
Ten state motorists are suing the Pennsylvania State Police for alleged racial profiling and enforcing federal immigration law without a criminal warrant. The allegations stem from five separate incidents beginning in early 2017, some including U.S. citizens. The plaintiffs, who are Latinx, contend they were asked to show proof of citizenship during routine interactions with […]
How SCOTUS’ gerrymandering decision could put Pennsylvania’s own ruling in the spotlight
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that federal courts have no role to play in adjudicating accusations that political boundaries were drawn for partisan purposes. That 5-4 decision will have no impact on Pennsylvania’s congressional map, which was redrawn as the result of a state Supreme Court gerrymandering decision in 2018. The new map […]
Thirty years after its release, Spike Lee’s ‘Do the Right Thing’ has lessons for Harrisburg and beyond | Anwar Curtis
Director Spike Lee's classic has lost none of its power with age. And the question it raises are just as vital and important as ever.
Pennsylvania marks 100th anniversary of vote in favor of women’s suffrage
On June 4, 1919, the U.S. Congress passed the 19th Amendment to give women the right to vote. But that wasn’t the end of the story. To amend the U.S. Constitution, Congress sent the question to the states, where three-fourths of the 48 legislatures were required to ratify the change. On June 24, Pennsylvania became […]
Bill banning female genital mutilation headed to Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk | Friday Morning Coffee
The legislation is based on a House bill sponsored by Rep. Tom Murt, R-Montgomery
‘Juneteenth is American history,’ supporters say at Capitol rally
'Teach the young people we have to carry on our history,' Rep. Sue Helm, the holiday's legislative sponsor, said Wednesday.
Pa. Reps. Dwight Evans, Madeleine Dean are backing U.S. House effort to study slavery reparations
It might not become law, but the proposal is elevating the national discussion about reparations for slavery as Democratic politicians -- including White House hopefuls -- are increasingly willing to support the idea.