Friday, August 22, 2008

Civil Rights Roundup: 8/22/08

Your daily dose of civil rights and related news

Ward Connerly's petition to ban affirmative action in Arizona has been thrown out, after election officials found that he fell far short in obtaining the number of valid signatures required to put the measure to a vote.

A federal judge stayed the execution of a Texas inmate, ruling that the state grossly erred in refusing to determine whether he was mentally competent to be put to death.

Washington Post: "Civil Rights Panel Faulted on Hiring Choice." The "choice" was to hire voter suppression artist Hans Von Spakovsky (as I wrote yesterday: "The technical term for this is 'sick %&@$ing joke").

ICE is scrapping its self-deportation program. Finally.

The ACLU is suing to overturn Alabama regulations which only allow ex-felons to be re-enfranchised if they can pay off all accumulated court costs, fines, restitution, and other costs associated with their sentence.

A group of Maine men have agreed to stay away from local Native Americans they are accused of harassing.

EMILY's List has released some interesting polling data on the opinions of women voters.

The Mayor of Phoenix blasted Congress for not mending "incoherent" immigration policies, which don't keep illegal immigrants out, don't give them true opportunity, and certainly don't stem the rising tide of hate and prejudice directed against Latinos of all backgrounds.

The Florida Parole Commission will remain all-White after a failed effort to add a Black voice to the board.

The HHS Department is issuing regulations which could dramatically restrict women's contraceptive access under the guise of "conscience protections" for doctors.

And finally, for an abbreviated Friday round-up, it's the 50th anniversary of Ben's Chili Bowl! And actually, given Ben's role as a gathering point for Black leaders during the civil rights movement, it's actually related to this roundup. Not to mention its delicious (some friends and I went there for dinner this week).

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