Civil Rights
Trans women of color and the Kansas City Police Department’s rocky, violent history
Four years ago, a viral video showed two Kansas City police officers slamming a Black transgender woman, Brianna BB Hill, onto the sidewalk, kneeling on her in the face, torso and ribs and forcing her cuffed hands above her head. In the time since, the officers pleaded guilty to third-degree assault. And Hill was shot […]
Revived push for Equal Rights Amendment blocked by U.S. Senate Republicans
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate failed to advance a symbolic measure to enshrine in the Constitution equal protection on the basis of sex, a century after the idea began circulating among lawmakers. Senators on Thursday voted 51-47 to go forward with a bill that would lift Congress’ self-imposed 1982 deadline for three-fourths of states to ratify the […]
Missouri governor threatens to call special session to ban gender-affirming care
With only two weeks left before lawmakers adjourn for the year, Gov. Mike Parson is threatening to keep Missouri’s general assembly in Jefferson City if they don’t pass bills banning gender-affirming care for minors and placing restrictions on transgender athletes. Parson told KCMO Talk Radio’s Pete Mundo on Tuesday, and reiterated to reporters and Thursday, […]
Protesta en St. Louis se enfoca en el uso de grilletes para solicitantes de asilo
Cuando Adelaida, una guatemalteca, cruzó la frontera entre México y Estados Unidos en McAllen, Texas para solicitar asilo, los agentes de immigración poco le explicaron antes de colocarle un grillete en el tobillo. “Ahí fue cuando me asusté, porque nunca en mi vida había visto yo un grillo”, dijo Adelaida, quien pidió que no se […]
St. Louis protest targets use of ankle monitors, passport confiscation for asylum seekers
When Guatemalan-native Adelaida crossed the Mexican-American border at McAllen, Texas, to seek asylum, immigration officials told her very little before they attached a GPS monitor to her ankle. “I was scared because never in my life had I seen an ankle monitor,” said Adelaida, who asked that her last name be withheld out of fear […]
U.S. House approves bill banning transgender student athletes in girls sports
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans voted Thursday to prohibit transgender student athletes from competing on girls sports teams consistent with their gender identity, at the same time multiple GOP-dominated states are making similar moves. The bill, H.R. 734, which would apply to K-12 schools as well as colleges that receive federal funding, passed on a party-line […]
Senate committee rejects anti-DEI language, restores library funds in Missouri budget
Anti-diversity budget language called a “job killer” by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce didn’t survive the Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday, as the panel wrapped up its work on the state spending plan for the coming year. Over two days of work, the committee added more than $3 billion to the House-approved budget for state operations […]
Labor exploitation of unaccompanied migrant children probed at U.S. House hearing
WASHINGTON — U.S. House members in a hearing on Tuesday questioned the head of a federal agency in charge of unaccompanied migrant children about multiple reports of their exploitation as workers in U.S. meatpacking plants and elsewhere. Republicans and Democrats on the House Oversight & Accountability Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs agreed that […]
Missouri House votes to limit transgender athletes participation in school sports
The Missouri House passed its version of a bill on Monday that would ban transgender athletes from competing according to their gender identity on a 104-46 vote. GOP Reps. Chris Sander of Lone Jack, and Rep. Tony Lovasco of O-Fallon were the only Republicans who voted against the bill. Democratic Rep. Alan Gray of Florissant […]
Federal agencies lag in registering voters despite Biden executive order, advocates say
Within weeks of taking office in 2021, President Joe Biden issued an executive order — hailed by voter advocates as potentially transformative — that for the first time committed the U.S. government to registering new voters at federal agencies. But just over two years later, most of the 10 agencies examined in a recent report had made […]
Biden rule on transgender athletes would set conditions on school sports bans
The Biden administration will advance a rule to make it more difficult for schools to exclude transgender youth athletes from competition based on their gender identity, a senior U.S. Education Department official told reporters Thursday. The proposed rule would prohibit blanket bans of transgender athletes competing in sports consistent with their gender identity. But it […]
Diversity initiatives within Missouri agencies run into GOP attack on ‘woke’ government
High employee turnover has plagued Missouri’s Department of Social Services for years. The department’s staffing woes have contributed to a range of problems — from foster children languishing in state care for longer than they should be to disabled residents waiting months to receive federal food benefits to investigators unable to keep up with child […]