By: Rihan Issa, Executive Articles Editor, Vol. 27 Government surveillance is inevitable in our current reality. So present, it seems it is a fact of life rather than a direct invasion into the lives of marginalized communities. Government surveillance obstructs marginalized communities’ growth and transformation into healthy, safe, and vibrant communities. Surveillance has been used […]
From Our Editors
Legacy of Matter of A-B-: Reflecting on the Hardships Women and Other Individuals of Color Have Faced
By: Kathy Jara, Associate Editor, Vol. 27 There are many arbitrary areas of immigration law that showcase deep-seated racist and xenophobic attitudes of the U.S. justice system. In particular, refugee law has been very difficult for refugees and asylees[i] to navigate. These individuals are, more often than not, individuals of color and members of other […]
Food Deserts, COVID-19, and the Path Forward
By. Elisa Teeter, Associate Editor, Vol. 27 The USDA defines “food deserts” as areas that meet both low-income and low-access criteria based on census data.[i] To meet the low-income criteria, either 1) the poverty rate must be greater than or equal to 20% or 2) the median family income in the area does not exceed […]
Race and Human Trafficking
By: Shelly Feldman, Associate Editor, Vol. 27 One of the most pressing global challenges is human trafficking. Human trafficking is defined as “a crime whereby traffickers exploit and profit at the expense of adults and children by compelling them to perform labor or commercial sex.”[i] Former President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo described human trafficking as […]
Missing White Woman Syndrome: How Gabby Petito Reminded Us that Women of Color’s Disappearances are Largely Ignored
By Alexis Franks Associate Editor, Vol. 27 When Brian Laundrie pulled his white van into his family’s driveway on September 1st, 2021, friends and family all began asking the same question: where was Gabby? Brian and his fiancé, Gabby Petitio, had set out on a cross-country road trip one month before Brian’s unexpected return.[1] Their […]
The MMIP Crisis: We Must Not Be Silent[1]
November is Native American Heritage Month (also known as American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month). In honor of this American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, I will be writing about an issue affecting Native communities across the country: the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples (MMIP). This is a crisis “centuries in the making that will take a focused effort and time” to unravel. Recent legislation and policy initiatives to address the crisis mark a turning point in terms of the government’s priority in tackling the crisis.
Racist at its Core: The Continual Push for Work Requirements in Public Assistance Programs
By: Liza DavisExecutive Editor, Vol. 27 In March of 2014, now-retired congressional leader Paul Ryan appeared on a radio talk show to discuss the causes of “the economic conditions…plagu[ing] much of the country.”[1] At one point, Ryan said, “We’ve got this tailspin of culture, in our inner cities in particular, of men not working and […]
Impossible to Erase: the Disparate Impact of Zero Tolerance Policies on Black Girls with and without Disabilities
By: Liza DavisAssociate Editor, Vol. 26 On January 29, 2021 and in the middle of a mental health crisis, a 9-year-old Black girl was handcuffed, forced into a squad car, and pepper sprayed by Rochester, NY police officers who then told her, “‘You did it to yourself, hun.’”[1] In May 2020, a 15-year-old Black girl […]
White Liberals – Stop Demanding More Police, It Won’t Help
By Clara ButlerAssociate Editor, Vol. 26 After a national tragedy, within the thoughts and prayers usually offered to the affected community is a deep thread of pro-carceral sentiment. This response to instances of hate crimes and “domestic terrorism” is increasingly concerning, especially as most of the response comes from people who identify as liberal. […]
ON MOVEMENT LAWYERING: AN INTERVIEW WITH AZADEH SHAHSHAHANI
By Aashna RaoAssociate Editor, Vol. 26 In the past several years, a model of legal advocacy known as movement lawyering has gained increased attention. In reality, movement lawyering is nothing new—those who do this kind of work aim to provide legal support by following the lead of directly impacted communities and organizers on the ground. […]