Civil & Human Rights

Bisbee and Tucson advance civil union registries

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

EqualAfter the City of Bisbee and interested parties got together with Attorney General Tom "banned for life by the SEC" Horne to discuss the city's attempt to set up a civil union registry, they appear to have worked out their differences and come to an agreemment on the scope of that program to avoid unnecessary litigation.

This week, the Bisbee council approved civil unions measure:

The Bisbee City Council voted Tuesday night to approve a new version
of a proposed local law allowing civil unions for same-sex couples.

The 5-2 vote makes Bisbee the first Arizona town to recognize civil unions.

The
council had voted May 21 to formally propose a scaled-back version of
the ordinance that would legalize civil unions for same-sex couples.

In
April, council members approved an earlier version of the measure that
sought to give people in civil unions the same benefits as those in
marriages.

But city officials decided to rewrite the measure after
Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne threatened to sue over provisions
that Horne said were in conflict with state law or went beyond the
city's authority.

Horne's office said he approves of Bisbee's new version of the ordinance and won't sue to try to block it.

High Marijuana Arrests: Signs of Racism & Over-Policing

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by Pamela Powers Hannley The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has released a new report on arrests and incarceration for marijuana possession. The findings are startling– in light of new research showing multiple medical uses for marijuana, spread of states with medical marijuana, legalization of marijuana in two states, and widespread usage of marijuana by millions of … Read more

An excellent history lesson

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by David Safier Alfredo Gutierrez, former minority and majority leader in the Arizona Senate, combines personal history with the history of racial prejudice and exclusion as it affected Mexican Americans over the years in a piece he wrote for the Republic. For someone like me who never had the advantage of taking a Mexican American … Read more

A ‘post-racial society’? Backlash to Cheerios ad says otherwise

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Over the next few weeks, perhaps as early as Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court will decide the affirmative action case of Fischer v. University of Texas at Austin, (11-345), involving the University of Texas at Austin’s
use of race in undergraduate admissions decisions; and  Shelby County v. Holder, (12-96), which involves the question whether Congress’ decision in 2006 to reauthorize Section 5 of
the Voting Rights Act under the pre-existing coverage formula of Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act exceeded its authority.

It would be a fairly safe bet that Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas will state with certainty, and no sense of irony, that the United States is now a "post-racial society" where racism no longer exists, and public policies to eliminate the vestiges of institutional racism like affirmative action and the Voting Rights Act are no longer needed in a "race-neutral society." One has to wonder what America they live in.

This story over the weekend should cause the Justices to question their "post-racial society" certitude. Backlash greets Cheerios ad with interracial family:

Here we go again, with more proof, if anyone needed it, that the
post-racial American society some hoped the election of an African
American president signified is far from here.

Who would have thought that breakfast cereal would trigger the latest
racial battle line? In this case, a Cheerios ad much like every other
homespun Cheerios ad — with a heart healthy message and loving family –
ran into trouble from some commenters because of the kind of family it
featured. Mom is white, dad is black and their cute little daughter is a
mix of the both of them.

That’s it.

Nuns On The Bus Tour in Arizona

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Nuns On The Bus Tour for comprehensive immigration reform is coming to Arizona. Go to Nuns on the Bus – Network for more tour information and to RSVP. Date Type of Visit Place Jun 11, 2013 (10:00 AM) Voices from Annunciation House Casa Vides325 Leon St, El Paso, TX 79901 RSVP Jun … Read more