Latest news with #FourteenthAmendments
21-07-2025
- Politics
Mississippi judge pauses the state's ban on DEI programs in schools and universities
JACKSON, Miss. -- A Mississippi law that bans diversity, equity and inclusion programs from public schools and universities was temporarily blocked by a federal judge Sunday. U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate approved the request for a temporary restraining order brought by a group of plaintiffs, including the Mississippi Association of Educators. The ACLU of Mississippi, which represents the plaintiffs, said in a statement that the law imposes the 'preferred views" of Mississippi's state government on students, educators and families, violating the First and Fourteenth Amendments. 'We are fighting to protect the constitutional rights of teachers and students to share ideas and to receive and exchange knowledge,' the statement said. "We look forward to our day in court.' The temporary restraining order will stay in place until Wingate rules on the plaintiff's request for preliminary injunction, a longer-term order that would prevent the law from being enforced while litigation plays out in court. The ACLU of Mississippi said Wingate's order is a 'critical first step.' The law, which passed in April, bans offices, courses, trainings and programs relating to DEI, as well as a list of 'divisive topics.' Educational institutions found to be in violation of the law could lose state funding. In his ruling, Wingate cited instances where the law is already having an impact as part of his reason for siding with the plaintiffs. Faculty members at Jackson State University have been instructed not to discuss gender theory or systemic racism, he wrote. 'Suppressing constitutional speech through vague prohibitions and the specter of financial retribution does not serve the public good — it undermines it,' the ruling reads. Both parties will argue their case at a hearing about the potential preliminary injunction Wednesday.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mississippi judge pauses the state's ban on DEI programs in schools and universities
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi law that bans diversity, equity and inclusion programs from public schools and universities was temporarily blocked by a federal judge Sunday. U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate approved the request for a temporary restraining order brought by a group of plaintiffs, including the Mississippi Association of Educators. The ACLU of Mississippi, which represents the plaintiffs, said in a statement that the law imposes the 'preferred views" of Mississippi's state government on students, educators and families, violating the First and Fourteenth Amendments. 'We are fighting to protect the constitutional rights of teachers and students to share ideas and to receive and exchange knowledge,' the statement said. "We look forward to our day in court.' The temporary restraining order will stay in place until Wingate rules on the plaintiff's request for preliminary injunction, a longer-term order that would prevent the law from being enforced while litigation plays out in court. The ACLU of Mississippi said Wingate's order is a 'critical first step.' The law, which passed in April, bans offices, courses, trainings and programs relating to DEI, as well as a list of 'divisive topics.' Educational institutions found to be in violation of the law could lose state funding. In his ruling, Wingate cited instances where the law is already having an impact as part of his reason for siding with the plaintiffs. Faculty members at Jackson State University have been instructed not to discuss gender theory or systemic racism, he wrote. 'Suppressing constitutional speech through vague prohibitions and the specter of financial retribution does not serve the public good — it undermines it,' the ruling reads. Both parties will argue their case at a hearing about the potential preliminary injunction Wednesday. The Mississippi Attorney General's Office declined to comment on the pending litigation. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
ACLU, partners file lawsuit challenging Mississippi's DEI ban
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – A federal lawsuit had been filed against the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL), Mississippi Community College Board, Mississippi State Board of Education, and the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board. The lawsuit, filed by ACLU of Mississippi, Mississippi Center for Justice, Badat Legal and Quinn, Connor, Weaver, Davies & Rouco LLP, the challenges the constitutionality of House Bill 1193 of the 2025 legislative session. With budget approved, Mississippi lawmakers look ahead to 2026 session According to the complaint, House Bill 1193 violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution by imposing the state government's preferred views on matters of public concern – like race, gender and sexuality – on students, educators and families across Mississippi and censoring contrary views. The complaint also alleges that some of the provisions of the law are vague and contradictory that students and educators do not know what they can and cannot do at school. 'Members of the Mississippi Legislature may very well be incapable of having productive discussions on race, gender, or our state's history. That doesn't mean our educators and students aren't up to handling difficult conversations,' said Jarvis Dortch, executive director of the ACLU of Mississippi. 'The First Amendment protects the right to share ideas, including teachers' and students' right to receive and exchange knowledge. Open and honest dialogue benefits all students and, if given a try, it would benefit the Mississippi Legislature.' 250609_complaint_challenging_ms_dei_law_final_0Download Plaintiffs allege that the law, which was passed to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), would ban teachers and students from discussing slavery, the Civil War, various forms of discrimination in the past and present, the civil rights movement, the women's suffrage and women's rights movements and the LGBTQ rights movement. Plaintiffs asked the federal court in Jackson find various provisions of the law to be unconstitutional in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendment rights of the plaintiffs and to issue a preliminary injunction to prevent the law from being enforced, followed later by a permanent injunction. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
3 American children deported with their mothers, lawyers say
(NewsNation) — The Trump administration has deported three children under the age of 10 — all American-born citizens — alongside their mothers who were in the United States illegally, according to lawyers and advocacy groups. The American Civil Liberties Union, National Immigration Project and other groups described the cases as a 'shocking — although increasingly common — abuse of power.' However, the White House has defended the move and fought back against claims of denying the mothers and children their due process. One of the Honduran-born mothers was removed with two children, a 4- and 7-year-old, while another case involved a mother and her 2-year-old. The American children were detained while accompanying their mothers to appointments with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to Associated Press reporting. Trump's first 100 days: Securing the US southern border Family attorneys have raised questions about whether proper deportation procedures were followed in these cases, particularly because of the speed of the removals. The 4- and 7-year-old siblings were deported to Honduras within a day of being detained with their mother, Gracie Willis of the National Immigration Project said. The younger of the pair has a rare form of cancer and may now be unable to access medicine or speak with their doctors, according to Willis. Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., slammed the move on social media: 'This is unlawful, inhumane, and a direct attack on the basic due process rights guaranteed to all people, citizens and non-citizens alike, under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.' 'The Trump administration is disappearing families in the dead of night, and if we don't stop them, it will only get worse,' Nadler's post continued. Border Patrol, Mexican government dismantle cartel lookout posts Willis said the mothers did not have a fair opportunity to decide whether they wanted the children to stay in the United States. 'We have no idea what ICE was telling them, and in this case, what has come to light is that ICE didn't give them another alternative,' Willis said in an interview, the AP reported. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the mothers wanted their children to be removed with them, telling NBC's 'Meet the Press' on Sunday, 'The children went with their mothers. Those children are U.S. citizens, they can come back into the United States if their father or someone here wants to ultimately assume them.' Ron Vitiello, senior adviser for Customs and Border Protection, echoed that sentiment on NewsNation's 'Morning in America' on Monday. 'These kids were not deported, and they happened to be U.S. citizens living in the United States. That parent elected to take those children with her on her deportation flight to Honduras … They were not deported,' Vitiello said. Illinois Gov. Pritzker acts against El Salvador over Kilmar Abrego Garcia A judge scheduled a hearing next month on the case of the 2-year-old to examine ICE's handling of the deportation. The Department of Homeland Security contends the mother wanted to bring her young child with her, but the girl's father says otherwise. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arkansas League of Women Voters speaks on lawsuit regarding changes voter referendum process
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A lawsuit by the Arkansas League of Women Voters against Arkansas Secretary of State Cole Jester alleges six new laws violate the Arkansas and Federal Constitution. Kristin Foster with the League of Women Voters of Arkansas says the laws make the ballot initiative process more difficult. 'The people's power and voice in our ballot initiative process is so important to Arkansas that we cannot just let this lie,' Foster said. Arkansas League of Women Voters files federal suit, calls changes to voter referendum process 'Unconstitutional' The suit alleges the laws violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution and a part of the state constitution. 'The restrictions they have placed go far beyond reasonable election security to the point of just preventing people from being involved in the process, from getting issues to the ballot at all,' Foster said. The laws were highly debated during this session. Some people testifying against the bills believe they would wipe out the ballot initiative process. When asked about that argument, Jester said in a statement, 'The laws in no way eliminate the process: instead, they keep fraud out and protect the voice of Arkansans. Under Arkansas's constitution, a signature on an initiative petition is your vote, and this office will always find voter fraud unacceptable.' They require signature canvassers to check ID, read the ballot title out loud, warn signatories about fraud, live in Arkansas, file an affidavit and not collect additional signatures after they have filed the collected signatures. 'We want it to be safe and secure just like the legislature does, but it's just making sure this process is done without unnecessary barriers to the ballot,' Jester said. Arkansas League of Women Voters resubmits ballot initiative reform proposal The Arkansas League of Women Voters has also submitted a referendum for voters to roll back the referendum process changes on the 2026 ballot. The organization is working on a third submission to the Arkansas Attorney General. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
