The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) civil rights oversight, particularly within its Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), has been significantly dismantled, shrinking from 150 staff members to just nine. This drastic reduction, coupled with an aggressive immigration enforcement agenda, has raised serious concerns from former federal oversight officials and human rights organizations. Cases of alleged abuse, like those within immigration detention centers, which were previously under investigation by the CRCL, may now go unaddressed. Critics fear this gutting of oversight creates a system where human rights violations can occur with impunity.
Read More
The Rev. Jesse Jackson was hospitalized on Wednesday for observation of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a neurodegenerative condition he has managed for over a decade, according to the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Initially diagnosed with Parkinson’s, his PSP diagnosis was confirmed last April. The disorder damages specific brain areas, affecting movement, balance, and eye function, with no cure currently available. Jackson, a civil rights leader who marched with Martin Luther King Jr., received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000 and founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
Read More
In Chicago’s Old Irving Park neighborhood, Border Patrol agents were filmed violently detaining a 67-year-old U.S. citizen, allegedly breaking his ribs and causing internal bleeding. This occurred during an immigration enforcement operation that disrupted a children’s Halloween parade. Residents reported that agents deployed tear gas without warning, and the tactics used have sparked outrage. A Department of Homeland Security statement addressed the operation, but not the specific treatment of the man. Court filings detail that agents’ actions may have violated a temporary restraining order limiting aggressive tactics.
Read More
A Washington, D.C. resident is suing after being detained while protesting the National Guard deployment, alleging violations of his rights. The individual, Sam O’Hara, played “The Imperial March” from “Star Wars” as a form of protest and was subsequently detained by D.C. police after a sergeant from the Ohio National Guard contacted them. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, claims violations of the First and Fourth Amendments, as well as false arrest and battery, naming the sergeant, several D.C. officers, and the District of Columbia as defendants. This case is unfolding amidst other legal battles concerning deployments under the previous administration.
Read More
The Supreme Court is set to consider Kim Davis’ challenge to same-sex marriage at a private conference, marking the first time the justices will deliberate on the case. Davis, a former Kentucky clerk, refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, leading to a lawsuit and a subsequent jury awarding damages to the couple. The 6th Circuit rejected Davis’ appeal, citing that she was acting on behalf of the government, and therefore not protected by the First Amendment. Davis has requested the Supreme Court to review the decision, arguing her religious beliefs were violated.
Read More
FBI cuts ties with civil rights group Southern Poverty Law Center – that’s the headline, and honestly, it’s not a huge surprise given the current climate. When you really start to unpack it, it feels like another brick being pulled from the foundation of something that once felt solid. It’s like watching a house being slowly dismantled, one piece at a time.
This is where things get really frustrating. The Southern Poverty Law Center, or SPLC, has historically been a go-to source for information on hate groups and extremist activities. They’ve built a reputation, rightly or wrongly, for tracking and exposing the darkest corners of society.… Continue reading
Federal agents conducted an overnight raid in a Chicago apartment building, arresting 37 individuals without legal immigration status and at least one U.S. citizen. Witnesses reported seeing children, some unclothed, separated from their mothers during the operation. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have criticized the federal response, alleging it is not making the city safer. The Department of Homeland Security stated the raid targeted a location frequented by suspected gang members.
Read More
Federal agents conducted a large-scale immigration raid at a South Shore apartment building, leading to the arrest of 37 individuals. Residents reported that agents used excessive force, breaking down doors and detaining both citizens and non-citizens, some of whom were brought out without clothing. Authorities stated that the operation targeted individuals involved in drug trafficking, weapons crimes, and immigration violations, though no evidence was provided to support the claim that those arrested were members of the Tren de Aragua gang, as alleged. The raid has left residents traumatized and uncertain about their future, with some reporting missing belongings and concerns about potential displacement.
Read More
Leo Garcia Venegas, a U.S. citizen, is suing the Trump administration over warrantless construction site raids conducted by federal immigration agents. The lawsuit alleges that immigration officers target Latino workers without probable cause, violating Fourth Amendment rights. Venegas was detained twice in construction site raids, despite providing valid identification. The Institute for Justice, representing Venegas, argues that the Department of Homeland Security’s policies authorize these illegal actions, allowing agents to detain workers based on ethnicity and disregard evidence of citizenship. The lawsuit seeks to stop these “dragnet raids” and obtain damages for the constitutional violations.
Read More
Assata Shakur, a name that resonates with both reverence and controversy, has passed away in Cuba at the age of 78. Her life was a tapestry woven with threads of activism, struggle, and unwavering conviction, marked by her involvement in the Black Liberation Army and her subsequent exile. The news of her death has sparked a wide range of reactions, from heartfelt tributes to dissenting voices, reflecting the complex legacy she leaves behind.
Assata Shakur’s story is inextricably linked to the turbulent era of the 1960s and 70s, a time of intense racial tension and the fight for civil rights in America.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood