2023 Civics Edition
June 20, 2023
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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.
Protesters gathered outside the Supreme Court in November 2022 during oral arguments for Haaland v. Brackeen. Photo by Darren Thompson
Supreme Court affirms Indian Child Welfare Act: Last week, Native Americans, advocates and allies celebrated as the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), which protects tribal sovereignty and the rights of Native American families in adoption and foster care cases involving Native children. Opponents of ICWA claim it discriminates on the basis of race and prioritizes tribes' interests over non-Native people as shown in the Haaland v. Brackeen lawsuit, which involved three non-Native couples who had sought to adopt or foster three Native children.“Today’s decision is a major victory for Native tribes, children and the future of our culture and heritage,” tweeted Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “It is also a broad affirmation of the rule of law, and of the basic constitutional principles surrounding relationships between Congress and tribal nations." The court's decision affirmed ICWA's constitutionality and rejected challenges to the law's discrimination on the basis of race and undue burden on states. Native News Online has more.ICYDK: ICWA was enacted by Congress and signed into law in 1978 to prevent the unwarranted removal of Indian children from their families and tribal communities in welfare and adoption court proceedings.
North Minneapolis celebrates the state's first official Juneteenth holiday: On this Juneteenth, hundreds of Minneapolis residents danced, ate, and listened to live music on the streets. This was the first year the state celebrated the federal holiday, which was officially recognized by lawmakers earlier this year. “It’s fun to get out here with the family and the kids and explain to them that [Juneteenth] is like the Fourth of July, but it’s supposed to be even bigger and more special for us,” one parade attendee told Sahan Journal. Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union Army Major General Gordon Granger delivered news of freedom to the last enslaved African Americans in the United States. Take a look at how Minnesotans celebrated. More: Juneteenth: Remembering freedom’s promise (Black Voice News)
A hate crime, a mass shooting, and a family massacre are still somehow not enough for gun reform in Texas: Aaron Martinez, 35, was found dead in his truck in Texas last month. His family is calling his death a hate crime. Pulso reports that Martinez's father revealed in a CBS interview following his son's death that Trevor McEuen, the alleged murderer, previously expressed anti-Hispanic sentiments. Another tragic incident in the state occurred when Francisco Oropeza fatally shot five people, including his neighbor's wife and son, after a dispute over shooting a rifle. Despite such gun violence, Gov. Abbott has been criticized for failing to implement stricter gun laws after several mass shootings in the state. Read more here.
A visual journey of the Haiti-Dominican Republic border crossings: The border crossings between Haiti and the Dominican Republic provide a glimpse into the bustling economic activity and illicit practices on the island of Hispaniola. Despite the economic benefits of these crossings, which facilitate trade, daily interactions, and contributed to $1.03 billion in trade last year, they also expose people to vulnerabilities and mistreatment. Since last year, the Haitian Times has published images from three border crossings. View them here.
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