SCOTUS Blocks Ending DACA and Atlanta Pride Releases Anti-Racism Resolution
The U.S. Supreme Court in a 5-4 ruling blocked the Trump administration from ending a program that allows young undocumented immigrants to remain in the U.S. and obtain work permits.
More than 600,000 immigrants have benefitted from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program since the Obama administration enacted it in 2012. The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law notes this figure includes 39,000 LGBTQ “Dreamers.”
The Trump administration in 2017 announced it would end the Obama-era program, but this effort was challenged in court.
“Undocumented LGBT young adults are a particularly vulnerable population,” said Williams Institute Research Director Kerith J. Conron in a statement. “DACA helps many of them to get an education, find employment, and support themselves and their families while contributing to the U.S. economy.”
The National LGBTQ Task Force was among the LGBTQ advocacy groups that welcomed the ruling.
“Today, the Supreme Court put a speedbump in the road for Trump’s attempt to use the lives of undocumented immigrants to drive his nationalist agenda,” said National LGBTQ Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey. “The Supreme Court did the right thing by upholding the right of hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients, many of whom are LGBTQ, to stay in the U.S. to work, attend school and be protected from deportation.”
The Supreme Court issued its DACA decision three days after it ruled Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 bans employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key The U.S. Supreme Court on June 18, 2020, in a 5-4 ruling blocked the Trump administration from ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
The Atlanta Pride Committee (APC) released a resolution condemning police brutality and authorizing the creation of a complete Strategic Plan for the organization to focus on social and racial justice, human rights and equity.
The resolution, co-written and introduced by Executive Director, Jamie Fergerson and Board Chair, Wil Bryant, was unanimously agreed upon by the entire APC board during a virtual meeting held on Sunday.
Simultaneously, the board approved an open letter to Atlanta Mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, calling for reformation and transformation of policing and support of a laundry list of policies contained within the letter.
The letter and resolution come after the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks by Atlanta police on June 12 during a DUI arrest attempt in the parking lot of the University Avenue Wendy’s. Officers Garrett Rolfe and Devin Brosnan have both been charged. Rolfe was charged with 11 counts, including felony murder, and Brosnan was charged with aggravated assault and three counts of violation of oath.
The letter reads, in part:
“We are calling for reformation and transformation and support the following policies to move our communities forward:
Community Building. The City of Atlanta and the Atlanta Police Department have a responsibility to strength our communities, rebuild broken systems, and earn the trust of its citizens through significant community building endeavors. Police Officers should be seen as an asset to citizens, but that will require a greater commitment to serve and build personal relationships within the communities they protect.
Community Investments. We know that citizens of many of Atlanta’s neighborhoods face significant, multi-faceted hardship with limited access to opportunities and that their voices are often unheard. To create lasting change, investments must be made in community programs and centers, health centers, affordable housing, and psychosocial services. Employment and educational opportunities have the greatest capacity to lift people out of poverty and to reduce crime, so it is incumbent upon our leaders to redouble their commitments to these important investments.
Training. Officers should have extensive training in de-escalation techniques and must be required to exhaust all opportunities to de-escalate each and every situation using community resources and non-lethal means. Community members should lead the creation of locally relevant and culturally competent training programs to ensure that Officers can serve the unique needs of the communities they serve.
Demilitarization. Police Officers should be guardians—not warriors. Police departments should not possess tools of war or have the appearance of occupying forces.
8 Can’t Wait. The City of Atlanta should immediately enact and implement the remaining changes suggested by the 8 Can’t Wait Campaign.
Read the rest at thegavoice.com