In a historic decision that rewrites the history books, the criminal records of two men who were convicted in the 1965 assassination of Malcolm X are being cleared, confirming their long-held claims that they had no role in the tragic killing and were framed. Jennifer Peltz of the Associated Press…
Tag: Criminal Justice Reform
ACLU Data Finds High Racial Disparities in New Jersey Marijuana-Related Arrests, Calls for Legalization
Though polls show most people in New Jersey agree that marijuana should be legalized, there has been an increase in marijuana arrests in the state in recent years, the ACLU of New Jersey’s most recent data reports. Out of these arrests, racial disparities between Black and white suspects are high….
Jeff Sessions Seeks to Revive War on Drugs
President Donald Trump deemed himself the “law and order” president, taking a “tough on crime” stance emphasized during his inaugural address in January that described the current state of America as a dystopian society. Trump’s newly appointed U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was highly contested, is promoting his agenda…
Civil Rights, LGBT Pages Erased from White House Website
Within minutes of swearing to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, Donald Trump’s White House on Friday scrubbed all references to LGBT rights, deleted the civil rights page and erased any mention of climate change. Meanwhile, a new page, “Standing Up For Our Law Enforcement Community,”…
Loretta Lynch: The Legacy of the First Black Woman Appointed U.S. Attorney General
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch In her final weeks in office as U.S. attorney general, Loretta Lynch is still determined to seek justice for Americans. Sheannounced in a video statement on Friday that she is directing the Department of Justice to investigate if the recent rise in hate crimes is…
Van Jones, #Cut50 Petition Obama to Grant More Clemencies in Final Days of Presidency
With a change in administration, it’s uncertain if criminal justice reform will continue. By Sheryl Estrada President Barack Obama, the first president to visit a federal prison and discuss criminal justice reform, created a clemency initiative to cut short long mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent offenders imposed during the “war…
Ava DuVernay's '13th' Makes Comparison Between Slavery, Mass Incarceration
Director Ava DuVernay’s new documentary “13th” explores how mass incarceration in the United States, which disproportionately affects African Americans, reflects the injustice of slavery. DuVernay, who received an Academy Award nomination for “Selma” in 2014, said in an interview the film “may shake up everything you thought you already knew…
U.N. Panel: Blacks in the U.S. Should Receive Reparations for 'Racial Terrorism'
The U.N.’s Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent recommends African Americans receive reparations for years of “racial terrorism.” Last week, the working group, which reports to the U.N. High Commissioner on Human Rights, presented its findings to the U.N. Human Rights Council. The team was invited by…
Department of Justice Putting an End to Private Prisons
Highly profitable private prisons, which aided in the increased incarceration of Blacks and Latinos due to racial disparities in sentencing, have been deemed highly unsafe. By Sheryl Estrada REUTERS The Department of Justice announced Thursday it will phase out its contracts with private prisons to “ensure that inmates are in…
Will Criminal Justice Reform Ever Happen A Discussion Moderated by Van Jones Offers Answers
Criminal justice reform has long been an issue that has eluded tangible results. And with the negative consequences of what many consider to be a broken system becoming ever more apparentespecially among people and communities of colora major push is underway to finally enact change in the system. Coinciding with…