This month, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a statement of interest in a federal lawsuit challenging the City of Boise, Idaho’s ban on sleeping in public. The plaintiffs argue that bans on sleeping in public violate their constitutional rights because there is inadequate shelter space available in Boise to accommodate the City’s homeless population.
Last week, at the Next Generation Climate Justice Action Camp (NGCJAC), a diverse group of youth and adult organizers met in Southern Oregon to share tools and stories and prepare the next generation of climate justice organizers for the work that is to come.
EUGENE, OR: On Friday July 24, 2015, the Assistant City Attorney of Eugene dismissed a criminal case that he filed and prosecuted against Hedin Brugh, a long-time SLEEPS activist who advocated for unhoused people.
In light of the shortcomings of the legal system and growing police violence against people, there are many ways that communities can help each other to defend their rights to be free from unlawful searches, seizures, and cruel and inhumane treatment by law enforcement officers.
Last week, a federal court in California held that holding immigrant children from Central America in jail during their immigration proceedings was unlawful because it violates the terms of a nation-wide policy established almost 20 years ago. The court found that the failure to release children, the failure to keep children in a non-secure and licensed child care facility, and the deplorable conditions of holding cells all violate the terms of the government’s own policy on detention of immigrant children.
Last week, in Roe v. Patton, a federal court in Utah ruled that Utah must recognize a same-sex married couple as the legal parents of their child from birth. Under Utah state law, if a woman becomes pregnant with donated sperm, her husband is automatically recognized as the father even though he is not the biological father. In Roe, the federal court found that this same law must apply equally to a same-sex married couple.
Last week, in Pro-Football Inc. v. Blackhorse, a federal court in Virginia rejected a professional football association’s claim that it is entitled to trademark registration for the “Washington Redskins” logo. The court found that the “R” word may disparage a substantial number of Native Americans. Therefore, the term cannot be registered as a trademark under federal law.
Beginning in 1942, the U.S. government approved the use of human subjects in experiments to test its chemical and biological weapons. The human subjects were tens of thousands of members of the U.S. armed services that the government intentionally exposed to these chemical and biological agents. The experiments lasted for decades.
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court issued opinions in six cases that improve or maintain civil liberties. In the most highly awaited case, Obergefell v Hodges, the court legalized gay marriage in all states.