June 9 marks a troubling first anniversary. For one year, the United States government has been holding an American citizen in prison, incommunicado, without access to counsel, and no criminal charges filed against him.
Locking Out the Vote: When a 135-year-old policy with racist origins is still having discriminatory effects, it is time for the policy to go. By Jessie Allen
In October, President Bush signed the Help America Vote Act. It is designed to help states reduce barriers to voting and restore confidence in the system. Gov. Pataki, however, has turned New York’s implementation process into a political power grab that focuses more on party politicians than on voters.
Unemployment Insurance Fails Many Workers By Annette Bernhardt
Congress last week took up the long-overdue task of helping millions of jobless Americans who have exhausted their unemployment benefits. The debate centered on how many weeks of additional benefits should be provided and who should qualify for them.
Racial Profiling Post 9/11 - Still a Bad Idea By Prof. Angela J. Davis American University Washington College of Law
Since September 11th, some Americans defend the racial profiling of Arab-Americans and describe this practice as a small price to pay and a mere inconvenience to assure safety and security. I disagree. Racial profiling is never justifiable because it is far more harmful than many people realize, and it is basically ineffective as a law enforcement tool.
Imagine the following: After Congress passes laws to clean up corporate boardrooms and the accounting industry, the Justice Department and SEC claim they lack the resources to monitor compliance. Congress responds by stripping the enforcement provisions from the law, concluding that the job of bringing lawsuits against corporations and accountants should be left to private individuals.