The Office of Equity and Civil Rights (OECR) hosted the 32nd Civil Rights Breakfast on Oct. 17, kicking off the 2025 Civil Rights Week. The program, led by WMAR 2 News reporter Ja Nai Wright, sparked conversations amongst city leaders, lawmakers and activists to take action against today’s democracy.
Tag: Kristen Clarke
Posted inNational News
Mississippi Senate accused of paying attorney half the salary of colleagues
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the Mississippi State Senate for racial discrimination, alleging that Black attorney Kristie Metcalfe was consistently underpaid compared to her White colleagues, despite holding similar job responsibilities.
Posted inU.S. Government
U.S. Supreme Court slammed for allowing Virginia to purge voters ahead of the election
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled to allow Virginia to purge suspected noncitizens from its voter registration rolls just days before the General Election, prompting criticism from activists and the Department of Justice.
Posted inNational News
Justice Department opens civil rights investigation into Rankin County Sheriff’s Department3
The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a civil rights investigation into Rankin County, Mississippi, and the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department to determine whether the department engages in unconstitutional practices, including excessive force, unlawful stops and arrests, and racially discriminatory policing.
Posted inU.S. Government
PRESS ROOM: Justice Department sues Wisconsin townships to ensure accessible voting
The Justice Department has filed a complaint against the Town of Thornapple and the State of Wisconsin for violating Section 301 of the Help America Vote Act, and has secured an agreement with the Town of Lawrence to resolve its complaint alleging HAVA violations.
Posted inStop Killing Us
Ten years later, Mike Brown case propels U.S. police brutality to international stage
The Brown family appeared before the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights to seek justice for Michael Brown, who was shot dead by former police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, MO, in 2014, and to call for an independent investigation into his death and the implementation of key U.S. legislation.
Posted inAfro Briefs
Mississippi police unconstitutionally jailed people for unpaid fines, Justice Department says
By Michael Goldberg, The Associated Press/Report for America JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi police department in one of the nation’s poorest counties unconstitutionally jailed people for unpaid fines without first assessing whether they could afford to pay them, the U.S. Department of Justice said Feb. 29. The announcement comes amid a Justice Department probe […]