Civil Rights

Martin Luther King at a podium
Tiarra Mukherjee  Apr 5, 2019 1:52PM EDT

New Podcast 'Voices of a Movement' Brings Legendary Civil Rights Era Stories to Life

 “Some of them are names you know, some aren’t—but all of them have stories that need to be told while they’re still here to tell them,” say the podcast’s creators. 
Black man in plaid shirt with two small children on his lap
Shani Saxon  Mar 6, 2019 3:37PM EST

Federal Prosecutors Open Civil Rights Investigation Into Police Killing of Stephon Clark

It comes on the heels of the California attorney general’s decision to not file criminal charges against the officers identified in the shooting.
A demonstrator holds up a red, black and white poster that reads "Nope."
Kenrya Rankin  Oct 6, 2018 3:58PM EDT

Senate Votes to Place Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court

Activists disrupted the proceedings as Vice President Mike Pence called for the vote.
Protestors, one holds sign that reads, "Cut your hair, not the budget."
Kenrya Rankin  May 30, 2017 1:36PM EDT

These Three Federal Civil Rights Offices Are in Trouble

The proposed 2018 budget continues the Trump Administration’s trend of devaluing—and defunding—federal civil rights enforcement.
Black man in black suit with white shirt against black wall with black-and-white logos
Sameer Rao  Oct 26, 2016 10:57AM EDT

READ: Color of Change's Digital Activism Highlighted in New Profile

Wired features telling interviews with the racial justice organization’s leaders, including executive director Rashad Robinson, that dig into the importance of digital equity in today’s racial justice movements.
Protester holding sign that says, "No killer cops in our community"
Kenrya Rankin  Oct 4, 2016 1:22PM EDT

Judge Dismisses $41.5 Million Civil Rights Suit Against Ferguson, Cops

The lawsuit was filed by protesters who allege police used excessive force on them during the uprising following the police-involved shooting of Michael Brown.
Kenrya Rankin  Jun 8, 2016 2:35PM EDT

New Survey Highlights Civil Rights Issues in Public Schools

For the first time, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights added questions about the presence of law enforcement in schools.
Kenrya Rankin  Apr 11, 2016 3:52PM EDT

Detroit Public Schools Sues State Officials for Civil Rights Violations

The board of education says the state’s emergency manager law—the same one implicated in the Flint Water Crisis—has failed Detroit’s children.
Kenrya Rankin  Feb 18, 2016 11:03AM EST

Today: White House Will Bring Together Civil Rights Activists Past and Present

President Obama is set to meet with leaders from Black Lives Matter and the Civil Rights movement.
Kenrya Rankin  Feb 11, 2016 10:34AM EST

DOJ Files Civil Rights Suit Against Ferguson

Attorney General Loretta Lynch: “We intend to aggressively prosecute this case and I have no doubt that we will prevail.”
Kenrya Rankin  Feb 10, 2016 2:16PM EST

Ferguson Fails to Approve DOJ Policing Agreement, Now Open to Civil Rights Lawsuit

DOJ: “The Department of Justice will take the necessary legal actions to ensure that Ferguson’s policing and court practices comply with the Constitution and relevant federal laws.”
Kenrya Rankin  Jan 21, 2016 1:15PM EST

EXCLUSIVE: Listen to Studs Terkel’s 'Black Power' Interview with Activist Charles Hamilton

As Chicago’s WFMT kicks off a campaign to bring the broadcaster’s legacy to the Internet, Colorlines has rare audio of his interview with the man who co-authored “Black Power: The Politics of Liberation” with Kwame Ture.
Kenrya Rankin  Dec 17, 2015 10:20AM EST

WATCH: Video Explores Historical Links Between the Police and KKK

Fusion reports on the striking similarities between unsolved Civil Rights Movement-era killings and today’s police-involved deaths.
Kenrya Rankin  Dec 7, 2015 1:41PM EST

Justice Department to Investigate Chicago Police for Possible Civil Rights Violations

The investigation will examine how the Chicago Police Department uses force—and how officers are held accountable.
Kenrya Rankin  Nov 19, 2015 1:06PM EST

UPDATE: Minneapolis Cops Who Killed Jamar Clark ID'd, FBI to Investigate

And police donned riot gear and fired rubber bullets and a chemical agent into the crowd outside the Minneapolis Police Department’s fourth precinct building.
Kenrya Rankin  Aug 17, 2015 11:38AM EDT

9 Powerful, Thought Provoking Julian Bond Quotes

As the world celebrates a life well lived, we reflect on nine quotes that illustrate the power of civil rights advocate Julian Bond’s work.
Kenrya Rankin  Jul 2, 2015 10:52AM EDT

Detroit-Area Muslim Woman Sues Police for Forcing Her to Remove Hijab

A Muslim woman is suing the Dearborn Heights, Michigan, police department for forcing her to remove her hijab in the presence of male officers while she was being booked for an unpaid parking ticket.
Kenrya Rankin  Jun 4, 2015 5:16PM EDT

Flight Attendant Who Refused Muslim Woman Soda Will 'No Longer Serve'

The Shuttle America flight attendent who denied Muslim-American Tahera Ahmad an unopened can of cola because she could use it “as a weapon” loses her wings. 
Jamilah King  Mar 6, 2015 10:20AM EST

50 Years After 'Bloody Sunday': Remembering the Activists Behind the Scenes

A look at the students and teachers who helped lead the fight for black voting rights in 1965.
Carla Murphy  Jan 16, 2015 10:45AM EST

The Hope and Burden of The Civil Rights Movement

Young leaders and protestors are laboring against a myth of perfection.