The Trump administration, alongside congressional Republicans, is preparing to intensify legal actions against pro-Palestinian protesters, potentially using federal investigations and indictments. Measures could include deporting foreign students supporting Hamas, prosecuting demonstrators disrupting Jewish events, and charging protest leaders with failing to register as foreign agents. This approach contrasts with the Biden administration's stance, prompting civil rights groups to brace for legal battles. The strategy may involve enforcing laws like the FACE Act and using racketeering laws against protest networks.
Democratic leaders across the U.S. are mobilizing to resist Donald Trump's second-term agenda, focusing on safeguarding state-level institutions and values. Governors like California's Gavin Newsom and Illinois' JB Pritzker are preparing legal and legislative strategies to counter potential federal overreach on issues such as immigration, reproductive rights, and environmental regulations. With Democrats out of power in Washington, blue state leaders are seen as crucial in opposing Trump's policies, while also positioning themselves for future political opportunities. The resistance includes forming coalitions and updating strategies to address anticipated challenges from a more prepared Trump administration.
Democratic governors from several states, including California, Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts, are preparing legal and political strategies to counter potential federal actions under a new Trump administration. These governors aim to protect state policies on civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action, and immigration. California's Governor Gavin Newsom plans a special legislative session to "Trump-proof" state laws, while Illinois' Governor JB Pritzker emphasizes safeguarding freedoms and rights. Similar initiatives are underway in New York and Massachusetts, with governors pledging to use all available tools to defend their states' values.
Ronnie Long, wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for 44 years, has reached a $25 million settlement with a North Carolina city and the state, including a public apology, for his wrongful incarceration due to misconduct by authorities. The city of Concord will pay $22 million, and the State Bureau of Investigation will pay $3 million. Long, who was convicted in 1976, was released in 2020 after evidence of his innocence was revealed. The city acknowledged responsibility for the errors and misconduct that led to Long's wrongful conviction and imprisonment, with his attorneys calling the settlement and apology crucial for his healing.
The family of former Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, a civil rights icon, alleges she died due to medical neglect at the Baylor Institute of Rehabilitation in Fort Worth, Texas. They claim she was left unattended in her own feces, leading to an infection that caused her death. Despite a successful back surgery, the alleged improper wound care and neglect at the rehabilitation center resulted in her tragic passing. The family's statement highlights the broader issue of elder abuse and healthcare disparities affecting elderly Black Americans. Baylor Scott & White Health has expressed a commitment to working with the family but cited patient privacy in limiting their comments.
Senator John Kennedy criticized Rev. Al Sharpton's stance on race, arguing that ignoring race is not racist and that America has made significant racial progress. Sharpton protested against billionaire Bill Ackman over comments related to DEI and former Harvard President Claudine Gay. Kennedy also commented on the moral failures of academic leaders and questioned the media's treatment of President Biden's past racial controversies, suggesting Biden has been protected by the mainstream media. Kennedy emphasized the importance of character over race and condemned the use of race to harm others.
Eddie Bernice Johnson, a pioneering Black woman in health care and politics, passed away at the age of 89. She made history as the first Black state senator from Dallas since Reconstruction and served 15 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Johnson was known for her work on water resources, education, and as a pragmatic legislator who could work across party lines. She faced and overcame racial discrimination throughout her career and left a legacy of dedication to civil rights and public service.
Kim Davis, the former Kentucky county clerk who made headlines in 2015 for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, has been ordered by a federal judge to pay $260,104 in legal fees and expenses to the attorneys of the couple who sued her. This is in addition to $100,000 in damages previously determined by a jury. Despite her legal team's argument that the costs were excessive, the judge upheld the payment since the plaintiffs won their case. An appeal from Davis's attorneys is expected.
Mississippi's plan to establish a state-run court system in the majority-Black city of Jackson, which would be staffed by unelected judges and prosecutors, has sparked controversy and legal challenges. Critics, including the city's mayor and civil rights organizations like the NAACP, argue that the law, passed by a majority-white and Republican-controlled legislature, infringes on Black residents' constitutional rights to vote for local officials and imposes an unequal justice system. While proponents claim the move aims to address crime and judicial backlog, opponents see it as oppressive and racially targeted. The law's enforcement has been temporarily blocked by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals pending appeal, despite a federal judge's initial decision to allow its creation.
Kim Davis, the former Kentucky clerk who made headlines in 2015 for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples due to her religious beliefs, has been ordered by a federal judge to pay an additional $260,000 in legal fees to the attorneys of David Ermold and David Moore, a gay couple she denied. This amount is in addition to the $100,000 awarded to the couple last September. Davis, who was jailed for five days for contempt of court and lost her re-election bid in 2018, is represented by Liberty Counsel, which plans to appeal the ruling.
Kim Davis, the former Kentucky county clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, has been ordered by a federal judge to pay $260,104 in legal fees. This ruling follows a jury's decision that awarded $100,000 in damages to the couples who sued her. The plaintiffs, David Ermold and David Moore, each received $50,000 in damages and the judge affirmed that Davis is responsible for their legal costs as well. Davis's attorneys plan to appeal the ruling. The case has been ongoing since 2015, after the Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide.
Michael Skakel has filed a lawsuit against the town of Greenwich and former detective Frank Garr, alleging civil rights violations during the investigation of the 1975 murder of Martha Moxley. Skakel, a relative of the Kennedy family and Moxley's neighbor, was convicted in 2002 but had his conviction vacated in 2018. The lawsuit accuses authorities of ignoring evidence, intimidating witnesses, and pursuing Skakel for fame and potential financial gain. Skakel's attorney asserts it's time for accountability and for the untold stories of the wrongful conviction to be heard.
Kim Davis, the former Kentucky county clerk who gained notoriety for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, has been ordered by a federal judge to pay over $260,000 in legal fees and expenses to the attorneys of the couples she denied. This amount is in addition to $100,000 in damages previously awarded by a jury. Despite her legal team's argument that the costs were excessive, the judge upheld the fees as the plaintiffs were successful in their lawsuit. Davis's refusal, based on her personal beliefs, led to her brief incarceration in 2015 and subsequent changes in Kentucky law regarding marriage licenses. An appeal from Davis's attorneys is anticipated.
Kim Davis, the former Rowan County clerk who denied marriage licenses to same-sex couples, has been ordered by U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning to pay approximately $360,000 in legal fees and expenses to the attorneys of David Ermold and David Moore, the couple she denied. This is in addition to $100,000 in damages awarded to the men previously. The legal battle, which has been ongoing for over eight years, followed the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges decision and has involved multiple appeals and a jury trial. Davis, who claimed to act under "God's authority," was found to have sovereign immunity in her professional capacity but not in her personal capacity. She lost her re-election bid in 2018.
Rev. William Barber II, a Yale professor and civil rights leader, was removed by police from a North Carolina AMC movie theater for using his own medically necessary chair. Barber, who has ankylosing spondylitis, was at a showing of "The Color Purple" when the incident occurred. AMC has since apologized and stated they are reviewing their policies to better accommodate guests with disabilities. Barber plans to meet with AMC's chairman to discuss policy changes to prevent similar incidents.
