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Category archives for: Civil Rights

Immigrant Youth Shelters: “If You’re a Predator, It’s a Gold Mine”

FlaglerLive | July 29, 2018

An investigation of police reports and call logs from more than two-thirds of the shelters housing immigrant children provides a snapshot of what has largely been kept from the public as well as members of Congress.

Zero Tolerance: Here’s What It’s Like to Work at a Shelter for Immigrant Kids

FlaglerLive | June 30, 2018

A window into a system pushed into overdrive, straining to serve traumatized kids amid the uncertainty of America’s immigration system.

Being Separated From My Child Nearly Destroyed Me

FlaglerLive | June 26, 2018

The administration’s policy of separating families is torture, and Trump’s executive order to incarcerate families together doesn’t solve the crisis.

Pious Homophobes Win One

FlaglerLive | June 10, 2018

The Supreme Court in its wedding-cake ruling declared gays once again second-class citizens, at least when their sexuality has to compete with someone else’s more stone-throwing version of Christianity.

With Sharpton Headlining, Rally Calls For Restoring Felon Rights After Stinging Court Defeat

FlaglerLive | April 26, 2018

The long-planned march followed a late-night ruling from a federal appeals court that gave Gov. Scott a victory in a bitterly fought challenge to the state’s voter-restoration system.

Felons’ Lawyers Accuse Scott and Cabinet of Foot-Dragging Over Judge’s Rights-Restoration Order

FlaglerLive | April 15, 2018

A federal judge who found the state’s vote-restoration process unconstitutional gave Scott and the Cabinet until April 26 to overhaul the process. They’ve done nothing.

‘Aggressive’ New Advance Directive Would Let Dementia Patients Refuse Food

FlaglerLive | April 2, 2018

Do not resuscitate (DNR) orders are common. Do not feed orders, not so much, but New York may be opening the way to giving patients with dementia that option.

Trump’s Census Whitewash

FlaglerLive | April 1, 2018

The Trump administration’s decision to include a question on the census about citizenship is intended to under-count immigrants and skew numbers to favor whiter voting districts.

Florida an Outlier on Restoration of Felons’ Right to Vote, Barring 1.6 million Off Rolls

FlaglerLive | March 28, 2018

Automatically restoring the right to vote for convicted felons in Florida could add between 600,000 and 1.6 million voters to the state’s voting rolls.

Measure to Restore Voting Rights to 1.5 Million Florida Felons Goes on November Ballot

FlaglerLive | January 23, 2018

Voting rights of felons who have served their sentences, completed parole or probation and paid restitution would be automatically restored. Murderers and sex offenders would be excluded.

Jacksonville Sheriff Criticizes “Walking While Black” Reporting. Editors Respond.

FlaglerLive | January 13, 2018

Reporting has shown that disproportionate numbers of the tickets in Jacksonville and elsewhere have gone to blacks, prompting a critical response from Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams–and a corrective retort from editors.

In Florida, You Can Lose Your Driver’s License For Jaywalking–Especially If You’re Black

FlaglerLive | December 14, 2017

Sen. Jeff Brandes has repeatedly introduced measures that would prohibit driver’s license suspensions for non-driving offenses. But Clerks of court stand to lose $40 million annually if the law is modified.

A Dubious Arrest, a Compromised Prosecutor, a Tainted Plea: How One Murder Case Exposes A Broken System

FlaglerLive | December 10, 2017

One innocent man’s odyssey through the justice system shows why defendants often agree to virtually inescapable plea deals for crimes they didn’t commit.

“We Don’t Serve Gays”

FlaglerLive | December 9, 2017

Invoking Christian belief to deny service to a gay couple is not a First Amendment right, nor is it a matter of artistic expression. It’s good old discrimination under a new mask.

The Brutality Behind Trump’s Arpaio Pardon

FlaglerLive | August 30, 2017

The president called Joe Arpaio, a man who chronically violated people’s constitutional rights, a “patriot.” What does that make his victims?

Confederate Monuments’ Phony History

FlaglerLive | August 19, 2017

The irony of the debate over removal of Confederate monuments is that it supposes a removal of history when the monuments themselves were intended to re-write it.

Trump Administration Quietly Rolls Back Civil Rights Efforts Across Federal Government

FlaglerLive | June 17, 2017

Previously unannounced directives will limit the Department of Justice’s use of a storied civil rights enforcement tool, and loosen the Department of Education’s requirements on investigations.

In Flagler and Palm Coast, Hate Crimes Are a Rarity Even as State and National Stats Soar

FlaglerLive | May 25, 2017

Officials and experts cite many reasons why reported hate crimes are rare: there may be more harmony locally, but also more subjectivity, under-reporting and lack of awareness when hate crimes are committed.

Not My President

FlaglerLive | May 12, 2017

Renouncing Donald Trump is the conservative thing to do if one’s allegiance is to the rule of law, to American democratic institutions, to unobstructed law enforcement and to transparency and accountability.

A 2-for-1 for Racists: Post Hateful Fliers, and Revel in the News Coverage

FlaglerLive | March 25, 2017

Nationalism evident since Trump’s rise–calls for mass deportations, Muslim bans, economic nationalism–intensified intense media coverage of emboldened white supremacists, attention the groups seem to be enjoying.

Felons Seeking to Regain Right To Vote Look to Constitutional Amendment

FlaglerLive | March 6, 2017

The constitutional change, if approved, could open up voting rights for more than 700,000 Floridians, although fewer than 300,000 could be expected to apply, at least initially.

I Am An Enemy Combatant

Pierre Tristam | February 25, 2017

The media has been the enemy since the earliest days of the Republic. But to be an enemy in America is what all of us at one point or another have been or will be. It is an American responsibility. It’s proof of our beloved American citizenship.

Donald Trump’s New Deputy CIA Director: a Torturer Who Destroyed Evidence

FlaglerLive | February 23, 2017

Gina Haspel was deeply involved in the illegal torture of a prisoner at a secret CIA site, and when questions arose about the brutality, demolished 92 tapes that had documented the abuse.

Congress Signals Opposition to Assisted Suicide; Proponents Fear State Laws in Jeopardy

FlaglerLive | February 19, 2017

A congressional committee voted to overturn an assisted-suicide measure in Washington, D.C., last week, signalling more willingness in Congress to possibly reverse more liberal state laws.

Palm Coast Man Falsely Arrested Sues Sheriff, Saying Deputies “Did Not Act Reasonably”

FlaglerLive | December 19, 2016

Dakota Ward, 19, was arrested in March when he was mistaken for a man called De’Coda Ward, and was booked at the jail. A Sheriff’s internali investigation faulted a deputy’s carelessness for enabling the error.

Cops Aren’t Under Siege.
Civilians and Liberties Are.

Pierre Tristam | December 9, 2016

It’s a widely accepted but dangerous myth: that cops are under siege, handcuffed by “new restrictions.” The reality is the opposite, with more unbridled and brutal policing than we care to admit.

Two Kindergarten Students of Mixed Races Come Home From Imagine School With Swastikas on Their Skin

FlaglerLive | November 18, 2016

School officials say clear video from the school bus captured the incident, in which a middle school student is said to have drawn swastikas on at least two kindergarteners’ skin. A motive has not been disclosed.

Continuing Series of Voting-Rights Decisions, Judge Rules Against State on Disputed Ballot Signatures

FlaglerLive | October 17, 2016

The 30-page ruling Sunday by U.S. District Judge Mark Walker focused on situations in which voters’ signatures submitted with mail-in ballots do not appear to match signatures on file with county supervisors of elections. Under a 2004 law, such mail-in ballots are rejected.

Overruling Scott, Judge Orders Voter Registration Deadline Extended at Least Through Wednesday

FlaglerLive | October 11, 2016

U.S. District Judge Mark Walker also set up a Wednesday morning hearing to consider a request by the Florida Democratic Party to keep registration open until Oct. 18 — a week after the initial deadline was set to pass.

Early Voting Facts and Myths

FlaglerLive | September 25, 2016

Research shows early voting increases turnout by 2 percent to 4 percent. In some cases, it particularly boosts voting among minorities, a constituency that tends to vote Democrat.