Tuesday, February 11, 2024
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A View From the Ground
News and information about politics, government, civic participation and engagement from URL Media's network of Black and Brown publishers.
Good evening. Today we are covering how President Trump may have damaged the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, New York City’s mayoral election, a school board preparing for ICE, and more. By the way, our partner The Kansas City Defender is launching a writing-intensive organizational and education initiative, the Abolitionist Freedom School, on February 15th. Groups of students spanning multiple generations will develop journalism and organizing skills while studying Black resistance and liberation. You can learn more and apply here.Plus, we’re bringing you the latest updates at url-media.com as events unfold. Have a question? Write to us at [email protected].
Credit: Diy13 / iStock
Trump's controversial proposal for U.S. control of Gaza: In a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 4, President Donald Trump suggested a U.S. invasion of the Palestinian Gaza Strip. The proposal included an ethnic cleansing of the land that would bar Palestinians from returning home, and a plan to develop the region into something of a beachfront resort. These notions were announced in the midst of the ceasefire deal that has successfully freed 18 of the hostages held in Gaza and 730 Palestinian prisoners in its first phase, CBS News reports.However, the fragile agreement is at risk of abandonment. Hamas argues that Israel violated the terms by continuing military actions and barring humanitarian aid, and it may delay the hostage exchange as a result. If that happens, Israel threatened to resume its attacks — to which nearly 62,000 Palestinians have already lost their lives, according to Al Jazeera.To make matters worse, Trump later escalated the stakes with an ultimatum: forget the ceasefire agreements and release all hostages by this Saturday, or else, per CBS. Given this volatile moment — and the long history of occupation, displacement, and international intervention in the region without Palestinian consent — Trump’s plans and comments have only further destabilized the situation. He may have even endangered a crucial ceasefire that many viewed as overdue, TANTV explains.The idea of developing Gaza as a real estate opportunity reeks of prioritizing economic interests over human rights. Experts say that such a plan would likely worsen inequalities and harm the local population, and that the risks of retaliation and civilian deaths are high. Plus, a U.S. intervention could help obscure Israeli military actions, according to TANTV. To ensure something like a U.S. takeover of Gaza never happens, it’s important to reinforce solidarity with Palestinians by speaking out, pressuring elected officials, and donating to aid groups or directly to families. Many global powers have already condemned the takeover proposal, including the United Nations and governments around the world, and protest movements are already underway, per AP News. More from TANTV →
Ready for a new mayor? A reminder of how ranked-choice voting works: The race for New York City’s mayor is starting to ramp up ahead of the primary election on June 24. However, these ballots will look a lot different than most of the country’s — including those of the last presidential election.That’s because in 2019, NYC decided to use ranked-choice voting to determine its city officials. This system allows voters to select multiple candidates if they wish, and rank them according to their preference, Epicenter NYC explains.To win, a candidate must have a true 50% majority of votes. If no one has it on first choice votes alone, then voters’ second choices are added into the mix, then their third choices, and so on, until a winner is determined. Proponents say this model levels the political playing field for candidates and gives voters more of a voice, Epicenter NYC reports. The system could be a game changer in what is sure to be a crowded contest of challengers to incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who was embroiled in federal corruption charges until the Justice Department dropped them on Monday.Learn more about RCV with a sample ballot →
Afro and Black Latino identity is complex, but media keeps getting it wrong: Television and movies have made some strides toward better representation, but there’s still a long way to go — especially for Black and Afro-Latinos, Luz Media reports. This population, which numbers about 6 million people in the U.S. and 12% of Latino Americans overall, has been chronically misunderstood. Mainstream media has pushed a homogenous, stereotype-fueled narrative about who Latinos are and where they come from. Meanwhile, Hollywood casts Afro-Latinos in non-Latino roles — or not at all. In Spanish-language shows and films, white or white-passing actors are almost exclusively on screen.These portrayals are forms of erasure and are out of touch with reality. “The extreme diversity within the Latinx population is systematically flattened, ignored, and erased,” writes researcher Keara K. Goin, per Luz Media. Get the full story → Plus: Empowering Latinas in the NFL: Shaping the future of sports (Luz Media)
Trenton schools strengthen protections for immigrant students amid rising ICE fears: After a major decline in attendance, the City of Trenton, N.J. has taken tangible action toward protecting its students from potential U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity, Trenton Journal reports.The city is a sanctuary city, and its school district has a majority-Latino student population. Many of these families are recent immigrants who are fearful of sending their kids to school after President Trump’s directive allowing arrests on school grounds. In response, the Trenton Board of Education doubled down on protecting the emotional and physical safety of its students. In a unanimous resolution, the board adopted a “Safe Zone” policy that reaffirms the constitutional right of all children to access a safe and free K-12 education. According to Trenton School Superintendent James Earle, the resolution also prioritizes additional training for security teams and administrators about how to handle ICE, and clear lines of fact-based communication with parents.Trenton Journal has more →
Immigrant parents win thousands in DOE settlement (Documented)
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